I learn from my kids all the time. They live in the moment and find so much joy in the little things – something that I needed to remember as I planned my daughter’s 5th birthday. The thing is, with these parties, there’s a bit of pressure there. They’re getting older and you want to make it a day that they’ll remember always. We can get get caught up in wanting to create something perfect, spending lots of money buying cakes, presents, decorations and all the extras. So I feel very lucky that with my kids, I’m constantly reminded – happiness is not found in those things.

All that kids really want is the opportunity to to do what they best – be creative and play! They want parents who play make-believe with them, who laugh, jump in the pool and get their hair wet. It’s never about the toy, it’s about the experience.  So, in that spirit, I invited my daughter’s school friends over… and gave them each an empty plastic bottle.

This is a DIY kit that I made for the kids to create these bubble snakes with. Which eventually became more like bubble mountains. (I may have added a bit too much soap!) They loved it and never cared that they were playing with an old plastic bottle! We all had a blast and I got to share a fun way of recycling materials.

Here’s how you do it:

Cut the bottom off of a plastic bottle. Then take an old rag, towel or t-shirt and cut into a circle, large enough to cover the bottom of the bottle completely. Give the children the bottle, the pre-cut cloth and a few rubberbands to attach it on.

For the bubbles, I made my own mixture. I filled a big shallow tub (a kiddie pool would have been great!) with water and added a few too many squirts of my dish soap. I also added a few squirts of corn syrup to produce better bubbles, but to be honest I don’t think it needed it. We called it the Snake Pit, to go with our safari theme.

As the guest arrived, they each were given a welcome bag with the craft inside. It served a good icebreaker – something for the kids to do right away and set the mood for fun! I think adult parties could use this too!

So that’s how you make bubble snakes. If you have kids, or like acting like a kid, try this one – it’s great fun!

Militza Maury is the multi-tasking mama behind Little Green Dot, where she offers simple and fun ways bring green living back into our modern, busy lives. Militza comes from a background in creative design, and is a big believer in embracing a handmade life. She teaches simple recipes, tips and ideas to make it easier for us to reconnect, and make better, healthier choices.

 

Hear that? That’s the sound of summer starting to sizzle, mama! To celebrate the end of all the rain (please!) we’re hosting our first ever pop-up shopping fête on 29th May from 10.30am–5pm at Sal Curioso, which will be decked with gorgeous floral arrangements by Ellermann. Crafters extraordinaire SweetP will be on hand to supervise the kids in some Father’s Day photo frame making… leaving you time to enjoy some summer shopportunities! FotoWe will have a prop-filled photo booth for us to play with on the day… giving you something to fill those frames with!

With handpicked vendors bringing you the coolest kids and mama finds, gourmet eats, (and a few exciting extra treats!), there is something here for everyone. Here’s the full rundown:

Bookazine will have plenty of titles that we know and love, and are also hosting our special guest – children’s food guru Annabel Karmel, who will be dropping by for an exclusive early launch and book signing of the new ‘Quick & Easy: Toddler’s Recipes’ on the day! Not only will you be able to get your hands on a copy hot off the press, but Annabel will be there to meet with mamas and answer some food questions too. Finicky eaters begone!

For mama, Boho Betty will be showcasing their fab mama and kids wrap bracelets, and we’ll be teaming these with some new dresses from A Boy Named Sue and Polkadot Boutique. The 9^th Muse will be bringing their thoughtfully-curated collection along for us to ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ over and Fiona Paton Design will have stylish homewares to keep our apartments chic – no matter how tiny. And finally, Sonya Mool personalised cards will add serious flair to our next batch of ‘thank you’ notes.

And what about our discerning wee customers? Cutie Cutie Baby will be introducing their imported brand-name kids clothing, while Bubble Cabane are a one-stop shop for all your kids’ resort wear! Got a baby shower or birthday coming up? Baobae gift hampers are the perfect gift (and we love their cute dinosaur logo too!). Need some summer camp inspiration? Whisked Baking have launched a baking school just for kids and will be on hand to answer your questions, along with some special offers just for us!

Need some refreshment after all that shopping? Indulge in some exquisite French candies and cookies by La Madeleine de Proust, or nibble on some healthy vegan donuts and organic cookies from Ain’t Your Mama’s, all washed down with some very quaffable vintages at a special price from Signature French Wines. We’re very excited that Lola’s Ice Pops will be keeping us cool with some extra-special Sassy Mama flavours! These mini-sized treats are perfect for little tummies (or for mama to sample all the varieties!), and if you’ve worked up an appetite with all that shopping then Sal Curioso will be offering a special all-day menu just for us.

We’ll see you on the 29 May and be sure to hurry to get hold of one of our mama goodie bags, and one of La Di-Da kid’s goodie bags before they run out!

After moving to Singapore at the end of 2012, we changed from living in a rather pokey, typical old Hong Kong three-bedroom apartment where we were super-squished, to a suddenly rather airy, and super-modern Singapore condo. After whirling around, arms outstretched, and taking delight in the fact that my daughter could run from one end of the flat to the other without bumping into anything, we got down to the serious business of decorating all that delicious new space.

I’ve always loved a lot of colour in my surroundings, but am also addicted to change (yep, I’m fickle), so I tend to go very neutral and light with sofas and furniture, but get bright pops of colour with cushions and prints on the walls. I hate to commit to a particular colour scheme for long, which is why my husband teases me that I can’t go a month without buying a new cushion… I’ll see a photo on Pinterest or something in a store and suddenly I’m wishing I could change everything from blue to yellow, or pink to purple!

When I discovered Korla Home’s range of fabrics, I was super-excited by their huge range of brightly coloured prints, all with a modern Asian feel (and names like Kyoto Koi, Kerala Cherry and Bhutan Lattice). The best thing for me? You can mix and match to your heart’s content, trying out different combinations in their virtual showroom to see how they go together. Funnily enough, if you stick to just two colours, nearly any pattern will look good mixed with any other!

Korla Home’s range of products is fabulous too –you can shop for cushions, lampshades, blinds and curtains, or you can buy fabric by the metre for custom upholstery projects. Check out Korla’s range for Fred Lives Here so you can see the kind of fun furniture items that can get an extra dose of cool by being covered in a fab fabric!

Inspired, I filled up my shopping cart with some big Alhambra Stars print-cushions in Mustard (actually a warm yellow – mustard sounds a bit yuck doesn’t it?). When they arrived I was pretty thrilled – the fabrics are just such great quality and the colours are vibrant and eye-catching. I had originally planned to use them in our office/guest bedroom/general dumping ground, but they were so fab they moved straight to pride of place in the living room.

It seems my colour addiction has a new focus now… I’m already browsing for my next fave Korla print to mix into my home! Wings? Penelope? Cubes? There’s just too much to lust after!

Prices for cushions (cover only) start from around HK$360 for a small, un-piped version. Fabric starts from around HK$360 per metre. Korla ship both locally and internationally.

www.korlahome.com

On a recent family trip to Japan we were greeted with a frankly epic downpour that lasted for three days straight. Caught on the back foot, our temple-hopping plans were quickly shelved in favour of some indoor child-friendly distractions, keeping us out of our (typically tiny) Japanese hotel room and keeping everyone sane!

Here’s our fave five from the trip:

1.     Tokyo Fire Museum

Start here and combine with number 2 on this list for an easy morning of entertainment. This museum covers six floors and delves into the history behind Tokyo’s fire service, making for an interesting read for parents. There’s a dress-up corner where kids can play the hero, but the real draws here are, of course, the nee-naws! With genuine vintage fire trucks galore (some that you can climb into), and even a helicopter, there are plenty of photo ops to be had and bells to be rung to sound the alert. Heaven!

Where: Tokyo Fire Museum, Yotsuya 3-10, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

How much: Free!

Getting there: Jump on Tokyo Metro’s Marunochi Line to Yotsuya Sanchome Station. Exit 2 takes you to the museum entrance.

2.     Tokyo Toy Museum

It may come second on our list, but the Tokyo Toy Museum should be first on everyone’s Tokyo sightseeing list – it’s that good! Don’t let the word ‘museum’ fool you as only a small number of displays here are off-limits for little fingers, making the majority of the three-storey space a totally hands-on experience. Packed to the rafters with gorgeous handmade wooden toys, musical instruments and games, the friendly museum staff are more than happy to get down on their hands and knees and show your little one just how everything works. This is low-fi play at its best with not a screen to be seen – and you absolutely have to see the ‘sandbox’ area comprising over 20,000 perfectly polished wooden pebbles. The separate toddler room is packed full of tactile wonders, making it a perfect hangout for the under-twos, and there’s a whole game and puzzle zone for older kids. Many of the toys are available to buy from the in-house shop at the end of your visit, cutting down on potential home-time tantrums.

Where: Tokyo Toy Museum, Yotsuya 4-20, Shinjuku, Tokyo.

How much: ¥700 for adults, ¥500 for children aged 3 and over, or ¥1000 for a parent and child combined ticket.

Getting there: As with the Fire Museum, head to Yotsuya Sanchome Station and take Exit 2. Turn right at street level, then take the third street on the right and continue for around five minutes until you come to the museum on the right.

3.     Toyota Megaweb (and the train ride there!)

Another one for the vehicle enthusiasts! Megaweb is a giant Toyota car theme park-cum-showroom, which, in itself, doesn’t sound terribly interesting. But for a car-obsessed toddler, this was the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. Parents can enjoy playing on the futuristic ‘personal mobility’ pods that you can drive around a purpose-built track winding its way around the showroom, and older kids can experience high-speed racing in the driving simulators and virtual reality theatre.

Added bonus activity: We arrived at Megaweb via the metro line that runs along Tokyo’s waterfront. Anyone who’s travelled on London’s Docklands Light Railway will be familiar with the setup – it’s an automatically guided rail system that allows you to sit right at the very front, giving you the driver’s-eye view of the tracks and stations ahead. This kept a little boy who usually has ants in his pants quiet and perfectly still for nearly 40 minutes, making this an essential bolt on to the visit!

Where: Toyota Megaweb, 1-3-12 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo.

How much: Free!

How to get there: Take the Yurikamome line to Aomi station and Megaweb is right in front of you as you alight.

4.     Tokyo Tower and Aquarium

Another rainy day to kill, and this one just happened to be local to our hotel, making it a shoe-in for the list. The Tokyo Tower is a great point from which to orientate yourself and is a landmark in its own right, being somewhat reminiscent of another, (more famous) tower overlooking the Seine! The huge orange and white structure looms over Shiba Park and offers a birds’-eye view over the vast megalopolis that is the Japanese capital. Staff are extremely helpful and ensured that our stroller-toting party was bumped to the front of the queue for the high-speed lifts.

Once we’d tired of the view – which includes Mount Fuji on a clear day – and the (unnerving for mama) glass floor, we decided to investigate the small aquarium on the tower’s ground floor. Although nowhere near as impressive as our own Ocean Park, this did offer some child-friendly distractions, including a small display of jellyfish that fascinated my son for quite some time, and an open seashore exhibit with hermit crabs scuttling around in psychedelically decorated shells.

Where: Tokyo Tower, 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo.

How much: Tower admission: (main observatory) ¥820 per adult and ¥310/¥460 for children 4 and over.

Aquarium: ¥1000 per adult

How to get there: Take the Oedo line to Akabanebashi station, the Hibiya Line to Kamiyacho Station (Exit 1) or the Mita line to Onarimon Station (Exit A1). All are around a 5-minute walk away from the tower.

5.     Tokyo Baby Café

Finally if, after all that traipsing around entertaining your little one, you’re in need of some refreshment, head to the Tokyo Baby Café for a little family-friendly coffee break. This weird and wonderful establishment is fully stocked with toys and books, but the real draw is the quirky design. The interior plays around with perspective, using spaces in different ways for adults and children, for example tables become houses for kids, while a giant sofa functions as an entire play area… it’s hard to explain but well worth a look!

Exclusively for the under-7’s (and parents) and pregnant women, this place will buy you plenty of time to enjoy your latte and kids are well catered for too, with scrummy, healthy meal options.

Where: B1F, 4-5-12 Jingumae, 
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

How much: ¥500 per 30 minutes.

How to get there: Take the to metro Omotesando station, exit A2 (Chiyoda, Ginza and Hanzomon lines). The café is a 2-minute walk away.

And don’t forget to check out our Hong Kong rainy-day guide right here!

Summer Days

Last week the sun finally showed its face again. It had been a while – some of us were beginning to feel a little vitamin D deficient – and I certainly felt at times that I was back in grey, dull Blighty (but a far warmer and more convenient version, of course!) Rain or shine, the mercury is on the rise, so here are my current high street picks for the arrival of summer:

Gap Denim Shorts $399 These are a great basic wardrobe essential (and Instant Goddess recommends buying online if you don’t want to hedge your bets as to whether they’ll be available in store); White embroidered T $199 Pull&Bear.

Fluro Orange Floral Lace Top $249 from Pull&Bear – team it with the Blue Knitted Bermudas $590 from Massimo Dutti or the denim Gap shorts above. The white embroidered top shown with the shorts above is also from Massimo Dutti, priced at $690. 

Printed Halterneck Silk Top $690, and White Knitted Bermudas $590; Blue Halterneck Dress With Leather Straps $650, all Massimo Dutti.

Embroidered Dress $399 from Pull&Bear – this would make a great poolside coverup; Dress With Embroiderery Detail $299 from Stradivarius.

No summer collection would be complete without a pop of sunshine yellow: Printed Dress With Asymmetric Hem $599; Combination Dress in Yellow $499, both Zara.

Scarf Dress $1190; Long Silk Dress in Orange $1490, both from Massimo Dutti.

If you’ve been paying attention to the prices above you may have noticed references to Pull&Bear and Stradivarius - part of the Inditex group responsible for Massimo Dutti and Zara. As you know, I’m always on a mission to find fash for less cash in the ‘Kong, so last week I found myself heading up the orange Tung Chung line to Olympic, to hit 3 very reasonably priced shops – Pull&Bear, Stradivarius and Bershka (also part of Inditex). As always with cheaper brands, you need to watch the quality and choice of materials but with a keen eye you can pick up some very reasonably priced designs… so if you happen to be on the orange line, you know what to do!

Pull&Bear, Stradivarius, Bershka are all a stone’s throw from each other in Olympian City 2, Olympic, Kowloon, (exit D from Olympic MTR station).

Top of the Shops

I just happened to come across this little number from TopShop and had to share the love. I give you… The Pom Pom Flippy Dress, and with a name like that you’ll be hopping and skipping along the streets of Hong Kong without a care in the world!

PomPom Flippy Dress $1430 (approx.) and Whispered Crossover Wedges in Blue $500 (approx.) both TopShop.

Staccato Wedges

As you know, I do like a bit of bling here and there, especially on a shoe, and I’m also partial to an oh so comfy wedge, so when I popped into Staccato the other day my Instant Goddess radar immediately started to twitch when I saw these… oh, and do excuse the photography. I was happily whipping out the trusty iPhone when I got frogmarched out by security for the dastardly deed of taking photos… whatever next?!

Jewelled Low Wedges $859 and Snakeskin Effect Wedge $1390.

Midweek Meal Inspiration

This week I give you the one and only Domestic Goddess: Nigella Lawson’s Crab and Avocado Salad with Japanese Dressing. Apparently she doesn’t actually like the name Domestic Goddess but got saddled with it… I can think of worse! But I suppose entitling one of your books: “How to be a Domestic Goddess” isn’t really going to help your plight…

Anyway, for the men in our life who don’t ‘do’ salads, apparently her hubby Charles Saatchi (of huge advertising and art fame) doesn’t even notice it’s a salad. Best of all, I like her suggestion to instead invite a girlfriend over and crack open a bottle of chilled rosé! And if you’re in need of carbs, I gave it to my hubby wrapped in a tortilla which was gratefully received.

Tip 1: I used tinned white crab meat from M&S – it’s really good! Another reviewer of the recipe said she made it with tinned salmon which she said worked well.

Tip 2: I picked up my wasabi paste from a Japanese shop on Caine Road (I think it’s called 859), but you should also be able to find it in the Japanese aisle at one of the big western supermarkets. This also applies to Mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine) and rice vinegar.

Happy cooking!

Yogi tea saying of the week: “You’ll never leave where you are, unless you decide where you would rather be”.

Instant Goddess saying of the week: “Teleport me please to a poolside tropical paradise – just for a day or 2…”

Until next week Goddesses! And remember you are ALWAYS, ALWAYS worth it! XX

As the founder of HKELD – a website dedicated to promoting performing arts to the English speaking community in Hong Kong – mamas are always asking me what shows I recommend. I am a big fan of quality family entertainment, and a show for children should be of the same high quality as a show designed for adults! The month of May will have lots of options for mamas or teachers looking for the perfect arts and theatre programmes for their kids.

For Younglings

There’s a really interesting show coming to Hong Kong this month from Uruguay that’s well suited for young kids. Called Kohi, it’s a blacklight puppetry show that uses both objects and human bodies to create a really unique experience that kids love. The show is only 60 minutes long, which is perfect for those short attention spans (and small bladders!) It’s playing 18-19 May in Tai Po and North Point.

For more information see:

http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/CulturalService/Programme/en/f_entertainment/program_230.html

For Teens

Good Morning Hong Kong is a brand new musical, debuting this month. Set during the hand-over, it’s a good show for surly teens! It’s got rock and roll flair, local humour, and talks about an important time in Hong Kong’s history, featuring both local and international performers. It’s playing from 22-26 May at the APA in Wanchai.

Check out the details here: http://www.goodmorninghongkong.com/

For Cantonese-speaking Kids

For mamas looking for something fun for their Cantonese-speaking children I recommend The Kite Boy. Perfect for young kids, this is a modern puppetry piece being presented by the LCSD, and it fuses together animation, puppetry, lights and music into a show that teaches an important moral. It is performing at three theatres over the course of its run from now until 19 May, making this a convenient option.

All the details are available here:

http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/CulturalService/Programme/en/f_entertainment/program_211.html

For Mama’s Night Out

Mamas looking to escape the chaos and enjoy a night of dance should check out Yo Gee Ti, part of Le French May. This fusion dance piece blends modern ballet with hip-hop moves, traditional Chinese dance and Brazilian beats. It sounds very interesting, and quite different to the type of show that normally graces the Hong Kong stage! Playing from 30- 31 May at the Hong Kong Cultural Center in TST, you can read more here: http://www.hkeld.com/events/view/213

You can read more about upcoming shows in Hong Kong at Meaghan’s fab theatre blog, http://www.hkeld.com.

Mothers want the best for their child in all aspects of their lives – especially their health – which has lead to the polarisation of opinions on the topic of vaccination. Whilst from the best intentions, there is a lot of misleading information out there about the pros and cons of vaccinating your kids. I wanted to digest some of that for you and help you understand why, in my opinion, vaccinating is so important.

We live in an era and country where some vaccines have been used for over fifty years, and the diseases they prevent have been greatly reduced to the point where we often don’t understand what they are or appreciate how effective they have been. However, it’s only location and widespread vaccine use that keep these nasties at bay!

Vaccines prevent infectious diseases caused by certain viruses, bacteria and their products, by stimulating the immune system. The immune system develops over time through experience of infection or vaccination, and develops a ‘memory’. Once someone has been vaccinated, the immune system ‘remembers’ that particular virus or bacteria, and when you next encounter that bug, you are already armed to deal with the infection. Vaccines are but a tiny drop in the immune system ocean compared to what babies successfully tackle each day, especially during teething! They help focus the immune system against very specific infections.

A vaccine will never give the disease you’re being vaccinated against because it doesn’t actually use the infectious virus or bacteria that can cause disease, although the immune system will see the vaccine as being the same. There are three different types of vaccines, and the type of vaccine used for a particular infection will depend on just how the immune system fights it and how it causes disease, resulting in different side effects as the immune system is stimulated in different ways. Furthermore, some vaccines require boosters to generate a long lasting response.

Side effects are often the reason we fear vaccines – high fevers, sleepless nights and an upset bub are never fun. But in most cases (99.99999%) this is totally normal. Our bodies make cytokines – tiny molecules – that activate the immune system and control our temperature, causing fever and local swelling as immune cells proliferate. This is actually a sign that the vaccination worked successfully and is typically nothing to worry about. Of course, you know your child best so if symptoms continue you should see your doctor, as the Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong takes these matters very seriously.

Vaccines do not cause Autism. In 1998, Andrew Wakefield published an article linking the MMR vaccine to intestinal damage causing access to the nervous system. This was proven not to be true, and in 2004 this paper was retracted, having been rejected by all major health organisations, meaning it doesn’t have a scientific leg to stand on! Wakefield was found guilty of serious misconduct, but the effect of this study has been impossible to erase and still fuels doubts in parent’s minds. Categorically, it is totally wrong!

In Hong Kong, the recommended vaccine schedule is quite similar to the UK, Australia and the USA. In Australia and some other countries, your child’s immunisation schedule is even linked to tax benefits and schools require a vaccination status certificate for enrolment – so ensure your kids are up to date and keep good records!

Infections such as measles may have low prevalence, but are highly contagious and cause serious disease. Tetanus is ubiquitous, (found in soil and even rusty nails); influenza comes in seasonal waves; and rotavirus, a common cause of childhood diarrhoea, causes small outbreaks. In Hong Kong the BCG vaccine is recommended at birth, whilst in the USA the influenza vaccination is advised from six months of age. This is where vaccination choice can come into play and can polarise parental opinion. My advice? Investigate extensively what the vaccine is, the severity of the disease caused and the benefits of vaccination as opposed to the side effects.

There is a huge amount of information out there about childhood vaccination, but always ensure your information is from a reliable source! I thought this website was a both informative and easy to read.

A favourite gift for my new mama friends is World Vision Childhood Immunisation, which costs AU$25/HK$203. We are so lucky to have the choice of vaccines readily available for our children, so this is a great way to share that privilege with those less fortunate than ourselves.

Sophie has a PhD in Viral Immunology from the University of Melbourne in Australia and now works at the University of Hong Kong.

This week’s That Mama is schooling expert and mum of two, Ruth Benny. On a mission to demystify Hong Kong’s baffling education options for the rest of us, Ruth runs Topschools education placement and information service. This week, our regular Sassy Mama expert contributor fills us in on conquering organisational challenges, the activities she loves (and doesn’t love!) with the kids in tow, and where to satisfy curry cravings on a restricted diet right here in the ‘Kong. 

How do you save time
I delegate – a lot. I need good people around me who can almost second-guess me. I have my strengths but I know my weaknesses, and number one is ‘detail’ – I’m frightened by lots of data. So I don’t waste my time struggling with it.

What are your organisational tricks and tips?
I’m really not very organised! I rely on my iPhone calendar and get an email alert at 5am every morning. It’s not unusual for me to wake up, check it and realise I have something important to do that I’d forgotten about!

I always feel saner after…
A foot massage – I thought at one point I was almost addicted to them! I usually go to a little place around the corner in North Point – I get a foot massage, mani-pedi (with OPI!) and still end up with change from $400!

Do you have any tips for keeping the romance alive in your relationship?
Difficult! We recently had a date night… but it was the first one this year. My husband works a lot and travels too. If he’s been away for a few days, the reunion is always fun.

Favourite date-night restaurants?
We stick with what we like. I’m allergic to seafood and hubbie is a gluten-free vegetarian, making us nightmare dinner party guests! Because of our diet, we like Indian food and the best Indian restaurants are not the fancy ones – we go to our club and sometimes to Chungking Mansions (The Khyber Pass, Block E, 7/F, Chungking Mansions, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.).

Favourite activity with the kids in Hong Kong?
Hangin’ at the pool – the kids swim and run wild with their little posse and the adults relax and chat, swim a bit and eat a lot!

Favourite kid-friendly restaurant in Hong Kong?
I used to like Cafe Deco, Top Deck, Pizza Express and Dan Ryan’s, etc, but now my kids are 5 and 6 we can take them anywhere and they’ll sit still.

Can you talk us through your career pre and post babies? How did you get back into the swing of things after having children?
During the first year, I eased back into work with some part time working and consultancy. I was also lucky to have flexibility after the birth of my son. Basically, I did not – and could not – do the 10 basic weeks maternity leave and head straight back to full time work.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a parent?
I don’t remember! I’m not good at taking advice. I remember feeling terribly worried before I had my second that I wouldn’t love him as much as my first. Someone told me the old adage ‘you don’t divide your love; it multiplies’ and that’s stuck with me. Not that I’m thinking of having any more…

Do you have any tips for any other aspiring “mamapreneurs”?
Find a niche and test the market before launching. Get some good business advice, but ultimately go with your gut. Recognise your weaknesses and don’t try to do everything yourself. Put some money where your mouth is and invest in your fledgling business at the start. And enjoy… !

As a mum I wish I were better at…
Organising. I find it difficult to juggle their schedules, organise playdates, extracurricular activities, etc. Also, I’m not so good at just dropping everything to play with them; I wish I were better at that.

Activity that I do not love to do but do it anyway because my kids love it…
Sweating! We do a lot of outdoor stuff – the kids don’t seem to mind the heat, especially when they’re in the pool but I’m not fit and I find it all a bit hot and sticky. If I had my way, I’d trawl the malls!

I wish I had more time for…
Myself! I’d sleep, watch TV (and probably wonder what the point was of all this free time!)

My most humbling mama moment was…
The realisation that I was put on the earth to do this. Perhaps I can make a difference in other ways too, but probably not more so than in the lives of the two human beings I have been blessed to mother.

Give us your essential new mama advice that might never occur to other women.
In HK, it’s really important to start thinking about your child’s education ASAP – even before they are born! Some preschools and primary schools accept applications from birth, so get the birth certificate within the first few days and send in your applications.

What’s your favourite family ritual?
I sing a little song to each of my kids before they sleep. It’s a silly, little ditty I made up about how I love my “baby girl/boy” but they insist I sing it every night after prayers.

I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about…
I actually don’t. I sleep well – just not enough!

Bedtime is always smoother when…
They are not overtired. The kids love reading and will ask for more and more time to read, but if we miss that window it can be hell!

How has having kids changed the way you define work?
I realise that work is not simply an exchange of time for money; it’s an investment in the future. This is what spurred me on to start my own business – the more I invest, the more rewards there are; not just for me but for my children.

Even when my child has a family of their own, I’ll still…
Be the best grandmother I can be! It’s hard to imagine…

One thing I won’t sacrifice as a mama is…
A few simple treats – some ‘me’ time, some treats and adult time.

My favourite moment of the day is…
Waking up. Usually both kids are in bed with us by then and my son, in particular, likes lots of cuddles.

What advice would you give a working mama in Hong Kong?
Employ the best domestic helper you can and rely on her! Find someone you can trust, give her lots of responsibility, independence and flexibility and don’t waste time checking up on her.

Beautiful photos of Ruth and her children courtesy of the talented Elizabeth at Lumo Photography, and you can check out the rest of our That Mama hall of fame here.

Forget nappies, early mornings and making packed lunches: even the sassiest of mamas needs a break now and then! Aching to be rubbed down in a whisper-quiet spa? Keep reading. Want a big bed to yourself, with no snoring hulk beside you? The boutique hotel experts at Mr & Mrs Smith will make it happen. Longing for a meal overlooking the ocean, with fine wine, your best friends and a handsome waiter? We know just the thing. This trio of stylish Smith stays has been chosen with luxury-seeking ladies in mind: read on, rest up and relax…

Six Senses Samui, Koh Samui, Thailand
Style Rustic luxe retreats
Setting Hilltop tip of Koh Samui

Mums (temporarily) fleeing their families are in safe hands at Six Senses Samui, whose 66 villas have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea and outlying island tropics; 52 have their own private pool, so you can splash away merrily and dry off on your sun-deck. When you want a watery change of scene, a bamboo-lined wooden walkway leads to a huge aquamarine infinity pool with a row of ocean-view day-beds and vast white parasols; when you want something to eat or drink, there are two elegant restaurants, each with its own cocktail bar.
Sleeping The higher up the hillside you go, the better the view, so ask for villa number five if you’re after postcard panoramas. To minimise bedroom-to-beach travel time, go for villas 42 or 43, which are situated right on the water. Plush Ocean Front Pool Villa Suite 38 also comes recommended – it’s got some delightfully shady trees ornamenting the sun-deck.
Activities Missing domesticity? Have a cookery class at the hotel and learn some Thai tricks to impress the folks back home. Rather flirt with the local sealife? The Life centre takes all the hassle out of arranging snorkeling trips and island tours. (If you’re feeling lazy, just borrow a DVD for the night.) The hotel’s spa will spoil you: have a massage in an air-conditioned individual spa villa, or in a private sala with a tropical sea-breeze on your skin.
Feasting Award-winning Dining on the Rocks has 10 weathered teak-and-bamboo terraced decks from which you can admire the ocean (if you can wrench your eyes from what’s on your plate, that is: expect succulent seafood and the freshest island produce).
Sassy savings Book through Mr & Mrs Smith to take advantage of the hotel’s special offer: 25 per cent off stays of three nights or more. Breakfast is included with this offer, and you can also claim your Smith extra: a 30-minute foot massage or body scrub for two people.

Fusion Maia Resort, Hoi An, Vietnam
Style Pool-flaunting villas
Setting Culture meets coast

Indulgence levels are off the scale at beachfront boutique hotel Fusion Maia Resort. Set within tropical gardens, Fusion Maia’s day spa is the largest in Central Vietnam; irresistibly, all spa services are included in the room rate, from manicures and massages to all-out pampering sessions, including a seven-day holistic program. To keep you feeling relaxed, the hotel has an infinity pool that seems to flow straight into the South China Sea, as well as a little library and a gym.  You can leave the iPod at home: each room comes with a preloaded one, and you can request playlists in advance. Laptops and iPads will sate any tech cravings.

Sleeping All of the bright and breezy villas feature a stylish mix of white walls, dark wood furniture and restrained bamboo details. Private courtyards and huge pools also come as standard. Friends holidaying together could share one of the spacious two-or three-bedroom Beach Villas, positioned just a few steps from the ocean.
Activities If your wardrobe needs a tropical update, head to Hoi An’s Old Town, lined with shops selling everything from silk lanterns to carved wood curios. Most people flock to the cobbled alleyways for hand-made clothing: Yaly (47 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street) has an extensive fabric selection; A Dong Silk (62 Tran Hung Dao Street) is known for its quality craftmanship (Smith stocked up on suits and shift dresses last time we were in town). While you’re in Hoi An, stop for cake and coffee at the hotel’s sister eatery, Fusion Lounge Restaurant.
Feasting Five restaurant serves up elegant dishes in a choice of two settings: a smart dining room where you can watch the chefs at work in their open kitchen, or a sultry sea-view terrace. Modern fusion dishes include wok-fried calamari, grilled snapper and hand-made noodles. For laid-back lunching, spend a few happy hours at café Fresh.
Sassy savings Smith members can choose from a range of Fusion Maia offers; you can save 20 per cent on stays of two nights or more, for example.

Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa, Krabi, Thailand
Style Tropical contemporary
Setting Seductive Si Kao seaside

Whoever came up with the phrase ‘too good to be true’ hasn’t clapped eyes on Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa, whose very real, very perfect beachside beauty is a product of fragrant gardens, cascading waters, rustic elegance and more natural attractions than a whole herd of supermodels.

Sleeping Opt for one of the spacious Deluxe Terrace suites, which have the same polished elegance as the other rooms but with the added blessing of a patch of lawn for private sunbathing. If you plan on a return trip with the kids in tow, bookmark the Anantara Family Pool Terraces, which have garden access and refreshing plunge pools.

Activities As compelling as it is to laze under the pine trees by the pool, it’s really worth exploring what there is to do both within the resort’s boundaries and further afield. On the beach you can borrow kayaks and catamarans for a couple of hours on the water. The snorkelling on Koh Kradan’s private beach – accessed by regular 20-minute speedboat rides from the resort – is eye-widening. Anantara also has a PADI dive facility (even non-divers can join in on an ocean experience lead by the experienced staff) and access to 10 dive sites. 

Feasting The resort has two main restaurants. The first, Leelawadee, a casual, open-air venue, serves a lavish buffet breakfast, light lunches and southern Thai dishes in the evening. Acqua is Anantara’s star evening restaurant offering fine Italian cuisine and seafood, either in the elegant white dining room or on the balcony, which is particularly beautiful as the sun sets. Elsewhere, light meals and snacks are served throughout the day at the Beach House, the Lounge Café and at the beach club on Koh Kradan.

Sassy savings Book through Smith to claim Anantara Si Kao’s advance purchase offer, which gives guests 20 per cent off, plus free breakfast.
Also interested in seeing Smith’s family-friendly getaways? Simply visit www.mrandmrssmith.com or call the expert Travel Team on 800-905-326. 

Want to have a half-price holiday? To book, call our expert Travel Team on 800 905 236 and quote ‘Boutique’. Mr & Mrs Smith members get exclusive extras at all stays.