Romance does not have to fade just because you are at home. Considering the impact of the pandemic and the need to practice social distancing, you have probably struggled to keep your indoor dates exciting. Fret not! There are a myriad of creative date activities that you can enjoy right in the comfort of your own home.
Spend Valentine’s Day with your special someone with these fun ideas.
#1: DO YOGA TOGETHER
Stretch the night away by practicing couples yoga with your partner. Now is the time find your inner Zen. Poses suitable for couples are more intimate and challenging. It is a shared experience focused more on the connection with one another, rather than just yourself.
#2: MAKE DELICIOUS PIZZA
Add spice to your Netflix and chill by making your own pizza. Try different recipes such as baguette pizza and Marinara pizza.
#3: TEST YOUR SINGING ABILITIES
Do you have a favorite love song? Challenge your partner to a melodious night of karaoke. Sing your hearts out by searching karaoke videos on YouTube. Singing some of your favorite tunes is guaranteed to boost your spirit.
#4: TRY A VIRTUAL MUSEUM TOUR
Whether you are a fan of Vincent van Gogh or cultural art, you can find a virtual museum tour for both of your interests. I recommend watching the National Museum of Singapore’s Zoom Into History Video series. It is an insightful look at the artifacts and everyday objects that have defined our nation’s past. You can also watch the virtual tours streamed on the National Gallery of Singapore’s Facebook Live.
#5: CREATE FUN COCKTAILS
Show off your bartending skills in the comfort of your own space by making a cocktail together with your loved one. Make the Love Potion #9. It is made with gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and pomegranate juice. Enjoy!
#6: START A BOOK CLUB
Encourage your friends to join your book club. Bring your partner along too. Choose a book to read together with the group and then pick an evening to discuss it over wine and cheese on Zoom or Skype.
#7: HAVE A PHOTOSHOOT
Spare a few hours for an at-home photoshoot. Ensure that your pictures have backdrops and decorations that fit your theme. You can have these photos printed and gathered into an album.
#8: SET THEMATIC NIGHTS
Whether you want to indulge on a game or movie night, you can set February 14 as your “best day ever”. You can forgo dinner by turning the lights out and preparing snacks that can boost your movie night experience. If you cannot agree on a movie you both want to watch, consider the first movie you ever watched together. Alternatively, you can play video games. Your partner can either be impressed by your mad skills on screen or will think it is adorable to see you consistently losing.
#9: INDULGE IN A SPA DATE
Drop in your nearest Lush outlet or create your own DIY bath bombs to enjoy a spa date. Have a bath together with bath salts and bath bombs. Afterwards, you can give each other massages with aromatherapy oils. Lastly, you can give your partner a manicure or a pedicure. Complete the experience with matching robes!
But it’s even more challenging to keep up with the sex drive, for both you and your partner. Whether you’re a first-time dad looking for some answers to your questions on sex during pregnancy or a mum-to-be looking to spice things up while expecting, this article might help.
In short, yes. But if you’ve been advised otherwise by your doctor, heed the medical professionals’ opinions.
We’re glad to have Aleece Fosnight’s opinion on this. Fosnight is a physician assistant and sex counsellor in urology, women’s health, and sexual medicine. She shares that the uterus may shift a little during penetration, and the mum will feel it.
Now, don’t freak out. Think of the uterus as a mobile home for your little bean. “The baby is super protected and has its own filter system that’s really selective about what goes in and comes out,” Fosnight highlights.
Sex during pregnancy is safe unless the lady has incompetent cervix or placenta previa and need to let the pelvic rest. Read more about pelvic rest here.
Stephanie Buehler, an author, psychologist, and certified sex therapist adds that some couples have intercourse up until the woman goes into labour. Parties can do as they please if they are comfortable with it.
#3: Is bleeding after sex normal?
Image Credits: wehavekids.com
Most of the time, post-sex light spotting or bleeding shouldn’t be a concern. It could happen because of an increase in the superficial veins and capillaries in the cervix and vaginal area. These capillaries are often very delicate, and even the slightest friction can cause them to rupture during sex.
But if there’s one thing you can do, it is to journal down the blood colours – whether it is bright red, deep red, brown, or a mixture of it.
If it hurts too much, know that intimacy doesn’t always mean intercourse must happen.
Dennis Sugrue, PhD, past president of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists, sheds light on the issue. “Stroking and caressing, and sometimes just getting naked together and sharing the way that vulnerability feels, can help keep bonds of intimacy strong between partners – even if intercourse isn’t occurring.”
#5: Is there anything sexual that’s unsafe?
Image Credits: unsplash.com
Some of you parents-to-be must be wondering about BDSM.
For folks who aren’t exactly sure what BDSM is, Cosmopolitan describes BDSM as a term used to describe these sex elements: bondage and discipline, domination and submission, sadism and masochism.
While light BDSM may be okay, using rope or any tight forms of constraints around the abdominal area should be avoided.
Dr Corey Babb, an OBGYN and Professor at Oklahoma State University, tells us that some couples should avoid aggressive nipple play as nipple stimulation can cause the release of oxytocin (a contraction-causing hormone) from the brain. This is especially so for women who are between 34 to 39 weeks pregnant.
Even without BDSM, intercourse can still feel wonderful if both of you engage in positions that help maintain the belly’s pressure and weight.
Here are 12 pregnancy sex positions to try as advised by medical professionals.
First Trimester
Scissor
X-Files
Cross Buttocks
Edge-of-Couch Missionary
Second Trimester
Doggy Style
LeapFrog
The Hot Seat
Cowgirl
Spider
Third Trimester
Spooning
Reverse Cowgirl
Table Top
Want a visual illustration of how to work the above moves? Click here to view the positions.
Sex drive changes during pregnancy are normal
Image Credits: unsplash.com
The ebbs and flows of your sex drive during pregnancy is normal. On days you might get the full steam ahead while at times you just want to lie in bed and be alone.
Yes, hormones are to be blamed in this case. For those who are engaging in more sex than ever, great for you! But expectant mothers with a lack of libido should not feel guilty at all. Have an honest conversation with your partner about it and read up on ways to keep sex alive while preggers.
This too, shall pass. Here’s wishing all expectant mothers a joyful pregnancy journey and a smooth delivery to come!
Dear parents, guardians, and caregivers, this is written specially for you. Are you looking for some resources on how to teach kids about money and abundance? New York Times best-selling authors Dr Wayne W. Dyer and Kristina Tracy have a book for you to share with the little ones.
If you think you haven’t been a good role model in money management, you might want to rewrite the situation by introducing some money-related life lessons for your children. Especially with the upcoming Chinese New Year, teachable moments from “angbaos” will present itself.
It’s easy to fall into the cycle of comparison. While having more toys and beautiful clothes matter, remind your child that they are not defined by the things they possess. Without that latest remote control car or that lovely barbie doll, they are still precious little beings on earth!
#2: Live within your means
As much as these are tips for kids, we would like to believe that there are learning points for everyone too. Some adults struggle with difficulties living within their means. The authors wrote this essential takeaway in their book:
“Don’t spend more than you make. Using money that’s not yours can be a big mistake.”
Isn’t this a potent reminder to have no matter the age? However, even more so for kids, you must instil in them the practice of spending within their limits from a young age. Let them know it’s okay to dream big and have goals, but encourage them only to buy what they can afford and work towards the rest.
#3: It doesn’t matter what others have
One will never be happy by yapping on non-stop about what others have. The truth is that there will always be people who have more and others with much less. Jealousy gets nowhere! Getting mad entertaining such recurring thoughts is probably a waste of time and energy.
#4: You have the power to get what you want
Instead of squandering valuable time away being sour, highlight to your kids that they hold power to get what they want. Are you curious as an adult too? Well, it all boils down to the power of the mind.
Do you know that an average person has 6,000 over thoughts a day? Thoughts can become actions, and actions can give way to results. Don’t underestimate an optimistic opinion because it can turn into something huge!
If you’ve heard your children telling you that they want to be wealthy when they grow up, don’t just dismiss it as a silly idea. Tap into their imagination and let them tell you the steps they need to take to become rich. It’s never too early to delve into the finest of details.
#5: Money does not create happiness
Adults who’ve had the chance to interact with the younger generation may come across some “money-minded kids”. Some adults are like that too. While money is necessary to live in this expensive world, it cannot buy certain unmeasurable luxuries like family love and genuine happiness.
Tell your children that mountains of money may bring temporary happiness but not deep-rooted joy. Even households with a little money can still lead fulfilling lives. Money is not the main contributing factor to happiness, and the little ones need to know that.
#6: Every job is important
How you treat people around you can reveal a lot to your kids. Do you respond respectfully to the server at the restaurant? Or do you yell at the customer service representative over the phone when something goes wrong?
Children are like monkeys because they see and do accordingly. As responsible adults, you want to pave the way for kids to understand that every job is important. While some may not be as glamourous, they still have an influence on our economy.
#7: Follow your dreams
To walk the talk, you have to be a parent who believes. We’ve seen many adults who scoff at their kids’ dreams after hearing it firsthand. Those who do it at family gatherings ought to reflect on the impact of their actions.
A dream is never too big or too small. But it’s definitely personal! Whether your child aspires to be a pet groomer, a celebrity, or a lawyer, don’t be a wet blanket. As the authors rightly point out, what your child does to earn money is their choice to make. It’s their life to live after all, and you can’t always be with them every step of the way.
#8: There is plenty enough for everyone!
The writers are talking about abundance here. When a kid sees another kid having more than they have, they may start to wonder if there’s enough to go around. Let them know that there’s plenty of life’s gifts for everyone! And there will be even more for those who work hard for it.
#9: Enjoy what you’ve earned
Hard work and rewards often go hand in hand. Parents and guardians who want to use this as a teachable moment can do so in terms of giving extra pocket money. Let the kids help out with household chores and provide them with a dollar to add to their piggy banks if it’s a job well done.
If your child decides not to add it to their piggy bank, don’t sweat over it. They’ve worked hard to earn the little reward so let them decide how they should spend it. But of course, there’s no harm in sharing with them the benefits of having savings over the long term. Just don’t nag at them.
#10: Abundance means more than money
Abundance is not a word associated just with money. Sometimes, the greatest treasures on earth are those that money can’t buy. Richness can come in the form of excellent health, loyal friends, and loving family members!
Have a closure to the reading session
We’ve come to the end of the list of 10 lessons. Hope you’ve found them thought-provoking. The book ends with several questions you can use to follow-up with your kid’s reading session. Here’s a glimpse of it:
Why do you think it’s important to save and use your own money for something you want? How do you feel when you use your own money to buy something?
To get what you want in life, it helps to picture it clearly in your mind—down to the littlest detail. Describe something you want to do, be, or have. What does it look like? How will you make it happen?
What is something important that you’ve learned about money from reading this book? Do you see now how money is not something that is good or bad but will always be a part of your life? Do you understand what money can and can’t do? Knowing these answers will help you have a healthy relationship with money throughout your whole life!
Do you want your kids to become champion expressionists in the future? Start them off from a young age. Writing will stick with your children for almost the rest of their life, be it in school, at work, or in other areas of their daily lives.
Here are some creative writing platforms you can consider enrolling your child in.
MindChamps should be a relatively familiar big brand name among parents and guardians of primary school kids. Their creative writing programme designed by well-known author Brian Caswell targets little ones aged 6 to 12.
The structure and techniques used at MindChamps complement the primary school English curriculum so your child can relate to what he/she learns in the enrichment classroom. A level will run for 10 weeks with 2-hour lessons happening each time.
During the classes, your kids will be able to use the MindChamps Writing Toolbox to:
Hone their grammar knowledge
Gain opportunities to proofread and edit their writing
Have a hand at broad genres of writing
Be exposed to various writing styles
Sounds awesome? Keep reading because we’re just getting started.
Julia Gabriel founded Julia Gabriel Centre in 1990. It is part of the Julia Gabriel Education group which focuses on programmes supporting innovative communication, speech & drama, and early childhood.
Julia’s unique EduDrama® methodology will craft the learning environment needed for your child to top these areas: language, confidence, expressive communication, creativity, and critical thinking skills.
Parents who want their kids to get a headstart before entering primary one can sign them up for Julia Gabriel Centre’s Let’s Read & Write programme. Through experiential learning, your child will cultivate an interest in reading, share their opinions on stories, and have a go at writing short stories.
Think N’ Ink (7 – 12 Years / Primary 1 – 6)
It’s alright even if you miss out on sending your child for preschool enrichment writing classes. It’s not too late to start now! The Think N’ Ink programme will aid your kids in comprehending different text types.
They will be able to identify the main and supporting ideas and tackle diverse comprehension questions. If you want your children to grasp a range of thematic vocabulary, grammatical rules, and succeed in their PSLE, this could be for you.
But hold up! Wait till you consider the rest on this list.
The Write Connection’s writing enrichment programme has been tried and tested in Sydney back in 2002. You can expect world-class writing pedagogy and curriculum aligned with MOE’s.
In selected two-hour lessons, your child will experience language exercises to help them analyse and read like a writer. They will have a chance to be updated with current news to sharpen their general knowledge. Simultaneously, mentors will encourage participants to connect with other classmates through effective communication within the classroom and beyond.
Their very structured curriculum cycle consists of:
AGrader Learning Centre has creative writing classes for children from primary 1 to 6. Your little one will be able to gain exposure in descriptive writing, narrative and even personal recounts. Experienced teachers will guide your child through brainstorming to ideate their main characters and craft a plot with conflicts and solutions.
Through storybook reading, primary school students can pick up new vocabulary and apply metaphors, personification, and similes in their future writing. Most importantly, instructors will set aside time to review common mistakes committed. Whether its poor expression or incorrect language use, students can reflect on these errors and avoid them going forward.
Write Edge claims to employ the approach of skills-based and thematic-based lessons to prepare their students for PSLE. Through the assorted story topics given every week, your child will be able to deposit new words into their vocabulary bank.
Parents who are worried that these extra writing assignments might stress your precious little ones, fret not. At Write Edge, full composition writings are completed in class at a frequency of 1 to 2 weeks. There will be ample time for them to craft their own stories alongside proper guidance.
Write Edge instructors will also introduce model essays with intriguing plots and relevant vocabularies. Class sizes are kept small and conducive enough for individuals to gain sufficient teacher-student interaction.
The next listing will sum up our list of creative writing platforms.
Like the writing programmes we’ve looked at thus far, Writers @ Work offers various writing line-ups for K2 to primary 6 students. The junior writing programme will set the foundation right and transmit the joy of writing before the young ones start their primary school journey.
As they progress through the years, students will learn how to meet the word count with precision and explosive vocabulary. From primary four onwards, Writers @ Work’s dedicated tutors will aid your child in mastering the art of storytelling. By the time they are at primary six, your child should be able to adapt whatever they’ve practised to ace their PSLE!
Learning how to write does not stop at primary school. If you think your child has benefited over the writing classes, enrol them for Writers @ Work’s secondary school enrichment programmes.
It’s never too late
We hope you’ve found this list useful! Amid COVID-19, parents looking for online resources can consider the premium creative writing courses (monthly subscription) by the Writing Samurai. There are several other online crash courses with one-time payments so check it out here for more details.
As Richard David Bach, an American writer, rightly puts it, “A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” It’s never too late to start honing your child’s writing skills! Take action now and make an investment in your child’s education you won’t regret.
Bling Empire’s the rage right now. It’s probably one of the trending keywords in Singapore and among several other Asian communities. The new reality show by Netflix which aired on 15 January features the life stories of a group of rich Asians living in Los Angeles. This includes Kane Lim, a Singaporean cast member.
We read from an exclusive interview that Kane gathered his LA friends to form Bling Empire’s cast. Together with Kelly Mi Li, they were the ones who pitched the reality show idea to Jeff Jenkins. Jenkins is the producer who was in charge of Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ production.
There are already a couple of reviews on Bling Empire, so we will spare you from that. What we are keen on focusing on is not the way the rich flaunt their wealth. Instead, while watching the program, we had some meaningful realisations. Here are 12 that stuck with us while watching the first part (episodes 1 to 4).
Fashion & Business
#1: Less is more when it comes to jewellery
Do you agree with Christine that more is more when it comes to jewellery? Putting the wealthy mindset aside, we agree more with Coco Chanel that simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance. It’s also wise that you heed this advice, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory.”
#2: Never put the offer first
This is some wise advice on the art of negotiation. While it may not work in every workplace or client discussion, if you can, take it from Kane to allow the other party to give you an offer first before closing the deal. This could even work for a new job’s salary negotiation if done wittily and correctly!
Life & Relationships
#3: Live life to its fullest
What a powerful reminder to have at the start of 2021. Everyone has their definition of what “fullest” means. No matter the intention, we think it’s essential that we live life within our means. Hold that swipe at the store if you think you won’t be able to clear that credit card bill at the end of its cycle.
#4: The right person will come along when it’s due
Kim shared in Bling Empire that her mum advocates the idea of working hard, being independent, and not worrying about any man. This is especially true for ladies (and gentlemen) who are worried about their love life. Focus on yourself first, and the right person will come to you when it’s due.
Dr Bethany Marshall, the psychoanalyst who was featured during Kelly and Andrew’s therapy session, revealed an excellent point. That is, real change takes place slowly. While it’s good to be quick to forgive, remember that a person does not overturn their bad habits overnight. Be sure to give it some time before you reassess your relationships status and make the next move.
#7: Ability to control people with money
While discussing the topic of surrogacy, Christine’s husband, Dr Gabriel Chiu, commented that when it comes to using money to control people, it’s possible. What are your thoughts? Considering most of us being placed towards the end on a financial spectrum, would you gladly be governed by the rich using money as a weapon?
#8: Need for privacy in sharing about your relationship
We’ve got to agree with Andrew that privacy is necessary for a relationship. Oversharing your relationship issues can stir up troubles, especially if your partner is one that values privacy. Kane shared in an episode about Kelly’s sex life with Andrew and Kevin. As Ryan Howes, a psychologist in Pasadena, California, rightly points out, “Without consent, discussing the specifics of your sex life should be a no-no.”
#9: Be respectful as a house guest
With the approaching Chinese New Year, there’s no better time than now to remind yourself to be respectful when home visiting. Kim and Guy are the exact opposite of who you should be – walking into Anna’s bedroom and shower and then invading her privacy by throwing a penis pump out of her house window in front of other guests.
#10: Apologies has its limits
Kevin decided to be the bigger person and apologise because Kim felt no remorse in her actions. Though it’s praiseworthy to be the person apologising when it seems like you’re not at fault, sometimes it’s better to let the situation cool before relooking into it again. This is to prevent similar problems from happening again.
#11: Perspectives matter
It takes courage to look back on one’s life and make a comment as Anna did. In episode four, Anna revealed that though she had four marriages and then divorced following, it was good. No, we’re not backing that divorce is the only way out for problematic relationships, but more of seeing the good in the past while moving on to the next chapter in life. All things happen for a reason!
Did the abovementioned realisations speak to you? Watch it on Nextflix if you’re keen! Meanwhile, please excuse us as we continue with the second half of Bling Empire for more life takeaways.
