안녕하세요 ~ The Korean Baby blog

Happy New Year (our 1st newsletter)

2012-01-02T15:00:00.005+09:00

Dear friends,

Happy New Year!
We wish everyone a prosperous and blessed 2012.

Along with the new year greetings, we are pleased to bring you good news! In our last newsletter we announced that we would be adjusting our shipping and handling fees in accordance with the increased shipping fees (Korea Post) that took place on 1st Oct 2011.

However, after reviewing the past months' sales and profits, we realised that even without adjusting our fees, we are managing very well. :) Therefore, we decided it will be better to maintain what we have so that more shoppers can enjoy international shopping. Not only that but in addition, we are upgrading to registered mail on our own account for most of the outgoing parcels (*see fine print).

When you get a shipping notification, you will see a tracking number and the website to track. If the link doesn't work automatically, please copy and paste the tracking number manually.

Last but not least, we want to thank everyone for the support that you have given to us in the year of 2011. Words can't express our gratitude - we wouldn't be here without you. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you again!

With warmest regards,
Jen Soo
Owner of The Korean Baby.
Join us on Facebook too!

*At our own discretion.

A peek into my work station 2011

2011-12-14T15:22:00.009+09:00

It's been a long time since I blogged (other than listing new products).
Today I decided to share some pictures of how I have been working for 2011. :)

Almost everyday is the same in and out - packing packages, walking to the PO, updating excel spreadsheets & paperwork, making phone calls to suppliers, email responding, surfing for new items, planning and costing. Not to mention the duties of a full time mom and housewife!!

That's why I seldom get to do alot on our FB page or blog. But I thank God for providing all these!!

2011 has been a very good year for me and my family - work wise and health wise. We look forward to a blessed 2012 and will continue to work hard to bring quality products to everyone!

Merry Christmas and a BLESSED New Year!!!

A typical crazy day. These boxes were going out by EMS.

Regular mail for small packages. Mostly to the US. I have been using these soft vinyl mailing bags for years. They are great because they can contain irregular items especially the plush toys and yet they are so durable.

My favourite bags when I go to the PO. Thank God I am able to hang them on my son's stroller and survive the walk to the PO regardless of rain, snow or shine. But he is starting school March 2012 so I won't have the stroller to push around, meaning I have to carry them myself. =.=

For most items going out by regular airmail, we are upgrading to get a registration number at our own expense so if it gets lost or delayed, we can file for an official investigation with our local post office. Since this is not "registered parcel with priority" , some countries do not keep track of the transit details but if our customers come back saying they have not received, at least I can file for an official investigation with my PO based on the registration number.

December giveaway!

2011-12-05T22:55:00.004+09:00

In the month of December, we are giving away these Pororo Christmas 2011 seals to 3 lucky winners. Spend above US$50 this month and stand a chance to win!

* Results will be announced 31st Dec 2011. Winners will be picked randomly. *

For more information on Pororo Christmas seals, please check our store.

Off season clearance sale!

2011-11-27T23:29:00.009+09:00

We are clearing summer items to make way for new stuff. Come and catch some great items now!

Our year end sale is extended!

2011-11-27T23:26:00.003+09:00

Manito Elegance Plus stroller cover

2011-11-12T21:38:00.004+09:00

I have been getting many inquiries about the Manito Elegance Plus stroller covers we have on our website. Many are concerned about whether the cover will fit their strollers. The cover actually fits 4 wheel and 3 wheel jogger strollers. It has alot of room so it will fit snugly for medium to deluxe strollers. For smaller strollers, it will be a little loose but still works!

Manito Elegance Plus stroller cover on a 4 wheel stroller.

Manito Elegance Plus stroller cover on a 3 wheel stroller.

Happy Pepero Day 2011

2011-11-10T15:05:00.006+09:00

11th November is the unofficial Valentine's day in Korea. It is known as Pepero Day (뻬뻬로데이) and is mostly celebrated by couples. Couples and friends exchange Pepero on this day and it is also said that if you propose on Pepero Day, you are sure to succeed. :)

Pepero is actually a chocolate dipped biscuit stick produced by Lotte Confectionary. When 4 sticks are put together, they resemble the numbers 11.11 so that's how 11th Nov was made Pepero Day.

This year's is exceptionally special because it is the Millenium Peroro Day. It falls on 11th Nov 2011 (11.11.11) and only comes in a thousand years so if you miss this year's, you will have to wait a thousand years.

Whether or not it's a gimmick, let's be happy that we are able to witness this special day tomorrow!

Our archived folder

2011-10-04T23:34:00.006+09:00

I thought I should share this so there won't be confusion. In July 2011, we revamped our website with new design and new buying system. However we wanted to retain the old design and information for reference so we shifted the old website onto an archived folder which is still appearing on search engines.

The archived folder is basically our old design. Just think - we shifted house but put all our old stuff in a warehouse. If you ever chance upon our archived folder, please do not get confused. And if you take a closer look, the address of our archived folder is actually different.

Archived folder = http://www.thekoreanbaby.com/sections/home

Website address = http://www.thekoreanbaby.com/

Here's how the archived one look likes. It is basically our old design with all information but backdated so please do not refer to any information on our archives.

Our discount coupon system is now back!

2011-10-03T10:31:00.006+09:00

We are pleased to announce that our coupon system is back! In our old website, we issued discount coupons manually but because of system limitations, we stopped them. Now with our new system, coupon issuing is such a breeze so we are back with them.

Not only are they back but back with improvements!

1. The total amount spent to be entitled to the coupon now includes your shipping fee spent. We didn't consider shipping fee previously but we put ourselves in your shoes and understand that shipping fee spent is still part of your total expenditure!

2. The coupon can be used on sale items and, simply off the total purchase, inclusive of shipping fee! Previously, the discount was only applicable to item cost, exclusive of shipping fee but we understand that since international shipping fee makes up quite a big of your total expenditure, we decided to include it.

This is one of the many ways to show our appreciation to all our valued customers and we hope that you find these coupons helpful.

For more information on our coupons, please refer to our website.

Shop early for Christmas 2011!

2011-10-01T10:24:00.005+09:00

Our Christmas 2011 sale is now on!

1. Check our priced down items for great Christmas savings. We have taken international transit time into consideration so we have officially started our Christmas sale from 1st Oct to 30 Nov 2011.

2. Spend above US$100 in one single order and get a personalized 5% discount coupon code for your next purchase. The coupon code will be "your name" and will be advised to you separately when your order is received.

3. With effect from 1st Oct 2011, Korea Post raised their international postage fees. We are not adjusting our S&H yet because we know you want to shop for Christmas. Starting 1st Jan 2012, our prices will be adjusted in accordance with the raised postage fees so shop now before the change takes place!

Special offer for all Singapore orders

2011-09-07T15:08:00.007+09:00

I am so excited I need to share - my parents are coming to Korea to visit from 17th Sept to 2nd Oct 2011 so the Singapore mood is in the air now!! To celebrate our excitement, all Singapore orders will be entitled to a 5% discount (only for regular priced items).

Please remember that all prices in our website are in USD so the exchange rate to use is US$1 = SGD$1.20. Simply send us an email to jen.soo@thekoreanbaby.com with your orders.

* Offer ends 15th September.
* Only applicable to payment in SGD to our local bank.

Visit our store now!

Award winning Korean wall charts - book pockets/organiser

2011-08-31T14:58:00.000+09:00

We recently got into partnership with Aileen Mom, the manufacturer for these cool wall charts. These charts are supposed to help you organise kids' books, flashcards, CDs and whatever knick knacks with the main intention of saving space. Simply hang these charts on the wall or door and you will be able to find the book that you want in a glance!

There are several manufacturers for wall charts in Korea but the reason why I chose to work with them was because they emphasize alot on quality. The fabric and end products are all made in Korea. Durable oxford nylon with reinforcement stitching all over, smooth edges without metal trimmings to prevent injury and best of all, variety in pocket size.

With books organised neatly and visibly, kids will enjoy reading even more!

Visit our store for more now!

Join us on Facebook and stand a chance to win a $20 voucher!

2011-08-27T15:37:00.001+09:00

Come visit us on Facebook and join our little contest by simply tagging yourself on our picture. When we reach 1000 likes, we will give out a US$20/SG$25 shopping voucher to the lucky random winner under the tag.

Come on in now!

More books added!

2011-08-27T15:32:00.002+09:00

Recently I have been getting many requests for Korean books so I thought I should introduce more books for all our little Korean babies and kids! If you have something in mind, please let us know so we can add more to our store.

Click here to view more books at our store.

Our 5th anniversary!

2011-08-17T22:38:00.004+09:00

Today I received this email from ebay and realised my little online business is already 5 years old! Wow, what a long way we have come! ^^

It all started back in 2006. After I gave birth to my 1st baby, I was really bored staying at home. Before I came to Korea, I had dreams of doing online selling since that was the in-thing then. However at that moment with a small baby, it seemed to me like dreams could only remain as dreams. I remember I had some friends selling unused stuff on ebay US and had quite some income every month. I really envied them but I just didn't know where to start, what to sell, who to sell to.

By chance, I came to know about Yahoo SG auction (no longer around) and started selling my unused stuff to Singaporeans. Later I added more and more new items and even started to sell on ebay, reaching out to worldwide. The main item I sold was Korean chopsticks. It has become such a big part of me that when I go to restaurants today, I check the quality and design of their chopsticks. My husband calls it "occupational hazard".

I am happy and thankful that God has provided me with so many opportunities and growth in my business. I never thought that I would be where I am now 5 years ago. Let all praise and glory be unto the Lord!

Toddler sizes added for hanbok!

2011-08-16T23:42:00.000+09:00

We have been getting many requests for toddler sizes so we just added Size 4 to most of our hanboks. For easy reference:

Size 2 - 1 to 2 years old (1st birthday)
Size 4 - 3 to 4 years old

Some designs do come in up to Size 14 so if you require bigger sizes, please inquire.

Customized teaspoon and fork sets

2011-08-09T22:33:00.001+09:00

I always love working on these customized teaspoon and fork sets. They are probably my favorite amongst the customized favor ideas we have in our store. Last week, I had the chance to work with 2 mummies, both with boys who are turning 1. What a coincidence! ^^

I must thank our printer who is ever so efficient. They turned these out in just 1 week, despite the fact that they just came back from summer holidays. These customized teaspoon and fork sets make great favors for birthdays, anniversary or weddings. I personally would be so delighted to receive one of these!

For more information, please visit our store.

Pororo & Friends plush toys

2011-07-29T23:57:00.000+09:00

Pororo plush toys are just so irresistible. It was difficult to get them because they were always out of stock but now, we managed to get hold of them! Get yours today before they are gone again!

Click here to purchase at our store.

Special custom orders for Parklon mats (Pororo)

2011-07-28T15:28:00.003+09:00

I have been getting several custom orders for this LG Parklon Pororo mats so I decided I will post here for all who are interested. Only available for shipping to Singapore because of the postal size limitations. These mats will be personally purchased by me from LG Parklon here in Korea.

Design:
Pororo Picnic - S$309.90
Pororo & Friends - S$301.90

Accessories:
Every mat will come with a bottle (50ml) of special cleaning fluid, specially for your mat.

Shipping:
All mats will be shipped within 3 to 4 working days and take 2 days to arrive Singapore. We will ship them by high priority expressmail EMS, right to your doorstep.

Packaging:
Your mat will be rolled (with plastic bag)and packed in a long and slim carton box. There is no separate carrier bag.

Payment:
Please make the payment to our POSB savings bank (bank account details will be advised in email).
Pls send your orders to jen.soo@thekoreanbaby.com.

For more information on mat dimensions, please check our facebook page.

Customized dol/baek-il banners and favors

2011-07-27T15:59:00.000+09:00

This is one of my favourite little corners in our store - customized banners and favors. When we had these in the old website design (limitations in options), customers had to send email to check for price, leadtime, etc. And with the time difference, much time was wasted.

However, with our new website design and improved cart, ordering these custom items is hassle-free now! Just select your options and check out! We will follow up with all customers personally upon order placement so you can be assured it is still a customized order!

Click here to view all products at our store.

Just discovered a new educational program - 똑똑박사 에디

2011-07-25T21:34:00.003+09:00

똑똑박사 에디 literally translates to Eddy the smart professor. It is a new Pororo cartoon that focus mainly on Eddy. Eddy has always been the smartest of them all, inventing vehicles, creating robots, etc. This time, he plays the role of a smart professor who "hosts" the cartoon.

I found this incidentally while watching EBS one morning with my children. Koreans love to have the TV on at meal times and I have to switch to the kids channel if not my kids won't stay still to eat. So that's probably how I get to know about all the kids' stuff. Anyways, I love this cartoon personally because of the IQ questions and quizes. One particular one I remember is this sequencing/pattern quiz. Eddy made his friends complete the missing parts of the pattern, for example:

Square, Square, Circle, Circle, ______, ______, Circle Circle.

This may seem so easy to us but with the colorful 3D animation, my daughter enjoyed answering and shouting out the answers because she knew time was short. She wanted to get it before Eddy announced the answer. It's more like a TV game for kids. And at that moment, I knew I had to introduce this to our store.

In conclusion, the whole program is very interesting and I believe kids will enjoy. However, the only draw back is - it is dubbed only in Korean (with English subtitles) so parents will have to sit down with your kids to watch together if they can't understand alot of Korean. Even so, I believe kids can make out something when they see the animation because kids have great understanding, we should not underestimate them. ^^

Click here to purchase the DVD at our store.

Our new website is up and we are having a 5% special sale!

2011-07-24T20:38:00.005+09:00

After months of hard work, our new website design is finally up!

To celebrate this, we are having a special 5% sale. Please key in the promotional code opening and you will see the 5% off at your checkout. The code is available for multiple purchases and will end 31st July (Korea time).

The whole system is still very new and because we have just undergone major renovations, please let us know if you face any problem with shopping. We appreciate your help in helping us improve.

Happy shopping!!!

Once again, I want to thank Yonici from ByNodesigns for the new design!!

장마가 끝나 가요!! (The rainy season is coming to an end!)

2011-07-16T10:08:00.000+09:00

Finally, after about 1 month of rain, the rainy season (장마) is finally coming to an end this week. Every summer, there will be about 1 month of rain. Everyone hates this because it becomes so humid. Laundry is not dry, house is damp and feels uneasy and we can't go out as often we want....

But thanks to the rain, I have been going to the post office almost everyday. ^^
That's because I'm just worried that if I waited, it might rain heavier and I can't go out at all. I didn't want to delay any orders due to the rain.
Anyway, I am glad it is coming an end. We are so looking forward to the HOT SUMMER SUN!!!

A sneak preview of our new website design

2011-07-06T08:28:00.001+09:00

I thought I wanted to share a sneak preview of our new design. As you may have already known, we are doing some major renovation works for our website. The main picture is again my baby's picture.. one of the nice shots we took during the Baek-il (100th day) studio photography. I didn't want to change the whole theme totally because I love the green stars background and our logo so much, since it's our first. But the buying process and viewing of products will be improved alot. In the meantime, our store is still open! Once I finish uploading all 100+ products to our work server, the new design will be released. Please bookmark us now!

"Please don't forget my name" (yet another Korean culture)

2011-07-06T06:57:00.001+09:00

What is the very first thing that defines your identity? Fingerprints? Your physical appearance? The car you drive? Your position in the company? I would say it is your name. Before knowing someone or finding out more about that person, the very first thing you know about that person is his/her name.

In Korea, however, I’ve noticed that after getting married and becoming a mother, I don’t use my name as often as before. In fact I think they are still people around me who don’t know my name because they know me as “Min Hye Umma”. Min Hye is my 1st born and after you give birth to your first child, people will naturally call you by your child’s name and affix the word “Umma”. Even after a few babies, your “name” will still be the name of your first child.

When you first get married into the family, you will be addressed as “New Baby” (Sae Aga/Egi) by your parents in law. Sisters or brothers in law will have other honorifics for you and nobody will use your name.

On a lunar new year’s morning, we were at my parents in law’s place for the “jae-sa” (ancestor prayers). We spent the night there before and were supposed to wake up at about 5am to prepare. My father in law stood outside my room and asked, “Min Hye, are you awake already?” I answered him no because my daughter was still sleeping but little did I know he was referring to me! Only then did I find out that not only they call you so and so's Umma, but they also cut it short and just call you by your baby’s name.

Of course I do believe there are exceptions in other families but on the whole in general, this is how Korean culture is like. Most women here are so natural and quick in introducing themselves as so and so’s umma. Not only amongst the elders, (which is still understandable) but even amongst friends, there are actually young people who introduce themselves as baby’s umma when making new friends. As much as I enjoy being an "Ajumma" here in Korea, I really hope to see women continue to claim their names proudly and not let their self identities be overridden by the fact that they are somebody’s wife and mother.

So the next time you hear your baby’s name being called, please check before responding. ^.^

It's not easy to set up a website!

2011-07-04T16:05:00.001+09:00

I have been working on the renovation works with my web designer for our website design. At first I thought it was just going to be a change in design, navigation and the buying process. Most of all, I thought it's just design. Little did I know that the main part is the technical part!

Every single detail in the website has to be checked, every single link has to be tested to make sure it's working. Picture sizing and alignment, text alignment, cart options, etc etc., and not to mention the uploading of all the products! Even with a batch editor, I still have to check it one by one.

I didn't feel this way when I was doing it 2 years ago because the current design is suported by wordpress which is so so so simple to use. But now, it's a whole lot more complicated.

Now I know it's not easy to put a website together. What we see visually is just the beauty aspect but what lies behind that beauty is the main job.

I can't wait for it to be ready but seems like I may need a bit more time. :)

Last but not least, let me give some credit to my designer Yonici at ByNodesigns. Thank you so much for your patience. :)))

New! Pororo mylar balloons

2011-07-03T23:43:00.001+09:00

Finally the Pororo mylar balloons are out in the new Pororo design! Pororo balloons are one of our best sellers and I have been waiting for the new stock because the old ones we had were all sold out. Now, we are offering them in a set of 4 pcs and it also comes with the windmill and stick!

Let us know if you need to change the combination of the designs.. of if you need to purchase in bulk for your little party guests.

Click here to purchase at our store.

Pororo is saved!

2011-07-01T14:03:00.003+09:00

A few weeks ago, there were talks that Pororo might be banned in the US because North Korea played a part in producing the cartoon. It became a big issue here in South Korea because Pororo is supposed to be 뽀통령 (derived from 대통령, president in Korean), president of all kids, since it's the most popular cartoon.

I am glad to update everyone with the latest news - Pororo is saved and will not be banned in the US!

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/06/30/2011063001224.html

Sleeping on the floor (Korean culture)

2011-07-01T08:25:00.003+09:00

Since old days and even until today, the lifestyle in Korea is very much "floor based". Most of the time, we sit on the floor for meals, kids do their homework on small study tables on the floor. When we go to a "shik-dang" (restaurant), there are table and floor seats to choose from and floor seats are actually considered more comfortable because you can cross your legs anyway you like. When it comes to bed time, most people sleep on the floor too.

"Don't you feel weird without a bed", is what I've always been asked by non Korean friends who visit my home. The answer is no but when I first came to Korea, it was YES, indeed so weird. Our first house after we got married was very small and definitely no space for a bed. I was really disappointed to "get married without a bed" and having to make the mattress and stow away every morning when I wake up was really a chore. My body ached in the first few months of the mattress lifestyle.

I remember before I had my first baby, I told my husband who is 100% Korean born and raised in Korea that I had to buy a baby cot because I cannot allow baby to sleep on the floor which is so dangerous. He came from a poor family and they never had a baby cot so to him, baby sleeping on the floor was the norm. Due to space constraints, we ended up sleeping on the floor on the same "yo" (mattress) from newborn days until today with 2 children. We have since added 2 more mattresses.

One of the main reasons for sleeping on the floor is because the floor is heated. Korean homes do not have any fireplace or air-con type of heater because there is a boiler system that runs underneath the floor. It runs on gas and the water in the pipes built under will boil and cause the floor to slowly heat up. You can choose the level of heat as well. We all know hot air rises so the hot air from the floor will just make the whole house warm. I really love this system because whether you are in the bedroom or living room, it is warm in every part of the house. Another reason for the no bed culture is probably space constraint. In general, the houses here in Korea are small so many people do away with the beds altogether. Of course people who live in bigger houses do have beds in their bedrooms because a big room without a bed would look equally funny.

I have tried sleeping on a bed in my mother in law's house during the winter. It was a single bed and having been without a bed for so many years, I "snatched" the bed but the moment I got in it, I jumped and insisted on changing with my husband who was so cozy on the floor! I must have been spoiled to sleep on a warm cozy "yo" in the cold winter.

I like to put my babies on the floor too. Somehow I feel it is safer and more comfortable for the baby because he/she can roll all over the place without any restrictions. Now I tend to encourage every new mother to "put baby on the floor and don't get a baby cot!". Unfortunately the no bed culture here doesn't apply to other countries so of course nobody is listening to me.

There are many different types of bedding set. For babies, junior, adults, wedding, summer, winter, etc. If you are planning to get a Korean bedding set, please be sure to take note of the kind of filling inside the mattress. There are some cheaper versions which are polyester filled. The polyester fibers are so weak that they sink in not even after 1 month. That will end up being so bad for your back and there is no way to puff up the mattress again. When we buy a mattress here, we always look for cotton filled (mok-hwa som). "Mok-hwa" is the Korean name for the cotton plant while "som" means filling. After some time, when your mattress becomes flat, you can even bring it to the mattress store for them to puff it up and it becomes new again. Or you can even make 2 baby mattresses out of your adult cotton filled mattress. There is almost no ending to your "yo"!!

Mummy's language

2011-07-01T07:55:00.003+09:00

I have always believed that your mother’s language should be the first language exposed to you from the day you are born. It’s like mother’s milk being the first food that goes into your mouth the day you come into this world (in the ideal situation). The reason is simple. It is because we first came from our mother’s body and she is the very first connection we have.

Being a Singaporean married to Korean and living in Korea, my own language English is now a "foreign language". Even though these days, people are more aware of the benefits of introducing foreign languages to children from young age, they are still quite skeptical on the overall when it really comes into action.

I've never wanted English to be a foreign language for my kids because that is my language, their Mummy’s language. I want it to be part of them, in them, and always living in them. The word “Foreign” suggests different culture, alien, outside. Other than the literal point that their mother came from a different country, how can something which comes out from their mother be considered foreign? It doesn’t make sense to me.

That’s the main reason why I took pride in speaking to my kids only in my language from the day they were born. When they were still babies, my in laws would comment that I should be teaching them Korean first and not touch on English yet (until they go to school). They were concerned about the kids’ future in school. They were worried that if my kids grow up not knowing Korean, they would be looked down on in school.

However, that has never been my worry. Since their father (who doesn't speak proper English) and the rest of the world around them speak Korean, how can they grow up without knowing Korean? Instead, the more I should input English into their little minds since the only English speaker was me. So, there are 2 languages in our family - English and Korean.

I get the same question from everyone and I literally mean everyone - "Don't they get confused?" My answer is always the same "no".

I came from Singapore, a multi racial and multi language country. We get to hear at least 4 languages everywhere. Everyone, even children speak and understand at least 2 languages. This is nothing special to me but definitely not a common thing in Korea so I can understand why they see it that way.

My elder child was a late bloomer in speech and she only started talking a lot at about 33 months. Prior to that, everyone commented that the delay was due to her confusion with the 2 languages used at home. I remember that time I was under quite a bit of pressure that I became unsure about my decision to use both languages at home. Thankfully she bloomed shortly after that and all my worries were unfounded.

My 2nd child started speaking at a younger age and used a mixture of English and Korean words so it proved to me that using 2 or languages won't make your child confused. Now, at 5 and 3 years old, they speak neatly in English to me and Korean to their father, and not to mention simple translations.

I am happy that I made that decision to speak only my language to my kids. It is ok to be called a foreigner in Korea since I indeed am. However I will not allow myself to be defined as “foreign” in the eyes of my kids. Even if we are living in another country, married to a man from a different culture, let us take pride in our own language and bring them down to our kids because no matter where you go, Mummy’s language can never be a foreign language.

Special Hanbok sale till 1st July 2011!

2011-06-29T06:55:00.003+09:00

To celebrate my son's 3rd birthday tomorrow, we are having a special sale for all boys' hanbok. In Korea, he will be 4살 (4 years old) according to the Korean way of counting (add 1 year to your actual age). So you get to enjoy a $4 discount off the hanboks!
Shop now at our store for more designs!

Adult lunchboxes added (and why I only carry stainless items in our store)

2011-06-26T11:44:00.005+09:00

I have been getting many requests for adult lunchboxes. Many people like the idea of a 2 tier lunchbox with the carrier bag but definitely not in the Hello Kitty or Pororo designs which we have. So I decided to add on this 2 tier stainless lunchbox for adults.

Now, many people ask me why I only carry stainless steel ware. The answer is because I am a health conscious person myself. I must admit those plastic lunchboxes in Hello Kitty or other sanrio designs have been my dream since young. However now that I am a mother, I am more aware of issues like BPA and want the safest stuff for myself and my family.

However I guess we can't avoid plastic altogether. As you know, even though the set is made of stainless steel, the lids are not. That's because, the lids can't be in stainless steel since it's supposed to be air tight. There has to be that "rubber ring" to be filled into the little gap at the edge of the lid so it will be air tight and spill free. Nevertheless, in my personal opinion, stainless steel containers are still much safer compared to the 100% plastic.

Click here to purchase at our store.

Hello Kitty beauty sticker book

2011-06-25T16:24:00.000+09:00

Once again, my daughter gave me the inspiration for new products. This Hello Kitty beauty sticker book caught her attention at the bookstore and she wanted it. At first I thought it was just another sticker book and was reluctant to "waste" this money since she already has many sticker books. However, after flipping it, I realised I liked it myself too! It brought me back to my childhood days where we had paper dolls and dressed them up in those lovely dresses. I know it's every girl's dream to own such a "beauty" book so I got one for her and also stocked on a few for our store!

Click here to purchase at our store.

Time for Pororo summer teeshirts!

2011-06-24T14:23:00.001+09:00

Last summer, we only managed to stock on very few Pororo teeshirts but this year, we are back with more designs and sizes too! Check out the new Pororo teeshirts and tanktops for boys and girls.

Click here to purchase at our store.

Mozzie patch now available in bulk of 5

2011-06-19T08:56:00.003+09:00

Our summer favourite is now back with a new design! The Hello Kitty and Thomas summer patch now come in this full colored design. We were selling them at US$8.90/S$10.90 per pack but as a mother myself, I like to purchase in bulk so I came up with this set of 5 packs.

Click here to purchase at our store.

We love summer!

2011-06-17T15:38:00.006+09:00

Any Singaporean can tell you how unbearable the weather is in Singapore. Having come from that tropical country, I really didn't enjoy summer until I came to Korea. Because there are only 2 to 3 months of heat throughout the whole year in Korea, I find myself dreaming of summer all the time. I got the inspiration this afternoon to source for some summer stuff. Here's what I found for our store!

Click on the image to view at our store.

A new website design 2011

2011-06-15T06:41:00.004+09:00

I am so excited I have to share. We are renovating our website with some touch up in the design and improvements in the buying process.

In 2008, I started this blog with very limited shopping functions though I had tonnes of cute products. As the products grow, I realised it was time to set up a proper website. With limited funds, I just had a simple buying system done up in a cute template and launched http://www.thekoreanbaby.com/ in 2009.

Since then, we have grown so much and now, 2011, I just knew it was time to renovate!

Once again, I am working with Yonici of ByNodesigns because I love her work and since she worked on my current one, she knows best how to carry on from there in the same theme I want.

I am still working with her on the draft and it will probably be ready by July.
But in the meantime, we are still open 24/7.

Happy Shopping!!

New design! Hello Kitty chopsticks with bag

2011-06-07T16:01:00.006+09:00

This Hello Kitty chopsticks set had been one of our best sellers since 2007. Today, they are no longer in stock because there are being replaced by this new design which is equally lovely!

Click here to purchase at our store.

Shipping and handling fee revision for hanboks

2011-06-02T08:41:00.006+09:00

We are pleased to inform that the shipping of all hanboks will be upgraded to high priority express EMS (4 days) without any additional shipping fees.

Shipping and handling for hanboks is currently set at $26 and this used to be for registered parcel service which will take about 7 to 10 working days but now we are shipping EMS without extra charges. So you receive your hanbok in about 1 week's time upon order placement (approx. 3 working days for order processing).

Click here to shop now!

Pororo stationery fun set

2011-05-25T22:39:00.003+09:00

Getting Pororo little knick knacks for party favors can be costly when you get them separately. We have put together all the hot favorites and created this fun set just for you!

Click here to purchase at our store.

Dibo plush is back!

2011-05-17T22:01:00.003+09:00

The Dibo plush toys are very very hard to get hold of. I have been trying to secure some for our Dibo fans but they are always sold out before I can get any but I finally managed to get hold of a couple and they are right in my inventory!

Catch them before they are gone.

Tayo The Little Bus

2011-04-26T15:44:00.004+09:00

Tayo The Little Bus is probably the next most popular cartoon after Pororo. Girls or boys, every child knows and loves Tayo. I didn't know about Tayo until my 5yo girl talked about it. As you may have already known, there are so many cartoons in Korea - Pororo, Dibo, Chiro, Cocomong, etc. Tayo The Little Bus cartoon stands out on its own because it features animation of the public buses we see here in Korea everyday. Not only are these animations cute, the talking buses and taxis teach kids about safety on the road and the ways of life. Plus the catchy Tayo theme song, kids just can't help falling in love. Check out our latest Tayo category at our store!

We are back at our workstation!

2011-03-08T21:38:00.002+09:00

The past 2 months have been very overwhelming. We were travelling as a family and I had to be away from my work station for 1 month! The trip back to my homeland Singapore was good. Meeting up with friends, fulfilling orders and meeting up with The Korean Baby fans!
We wish to take this chance to thank everyone in Singapore who contributed to our success.

I-Phyeonhae Noblesse Chunei - change of sizing

2011-01-18T14:49:00.003+09:00

From 2011, I-Phyeonhae is resizing the Noblesse chunei. There used to be 2 sizes, regular and XL but going forward, there will only be 1 size and that is a free size which is an in-between the regular and XL size. It stretches up to approx. 137cm.

We are still in transition so there is a mixture of sizes in our inventory now and we will continue to sell what is left (reg and XL) but certain colors are only available in the new size - free size.

In the midst of this transition, the hangtags for the free size chuneis may not be available so your free size chunei could use a "regular size" hangtag with the "free size" sticker pasted over.
Please do not doubt the authencity of your item because we are still in transition. We thank you for your understanding and patience.

Final call for Singapore residents - handcarry orders

2011-01-06T14:50:00.003+09:00

Hi Singapore, as we are nearing our travel date, we need to put a closure to the handcarry orders by next week. We have consolidated a couple of items which will be brought personally to Singapore so you can pre-order if you are interested. Please check our facebook page for the details.

Our travel date is: 29th Jan 2011.

Happy Shopping and see you in Singapore!

Dibo plush toy is back!

2010-12-27T22:41:00.003+09:00

I have always been asked if there are Dibo plush toys in Korea. Unfortunately they discontinued all Dibo plush toys a while ago with unknown reason. Almost everyday, I am on the search for Dibo items and today I chanced upon the htf Dibo plush again! This time, there's only Dibo alone but I will update once I see the rest of his friends available for sale.

Click here to purchase at our store.

SINGAPORE PREORDERS FOR BOOM CARRIER

2010-11-26T22:28:00.003+09:00

This is a special opening for Singaporeans or Singapore residents.
Preorder your Phyeonhae Boom carrier today and we will ship directly from Singapore.

Usual price S$128 (printed) or S$119 (solid) after adding registered shipping from Korea to Singapore.

But we are handcarrying your carriers to Singapore in our Jan trip (2011 Jan 29~)and will ship (local registered mail) to you free of charge.

Sale price: S$108 (printed) or S$99 (solid).

How to order:

Send in your order by email to jen.soo@thekoreanbaby.com.
Full payment has to be done for slot confirmation (POSB savings: 008-57049-3).
Upon payment, please indicate your IB initials and mailing address so we will know.
Orders will be shipped from the 2nd week of Feb 2011 (after CNY).
If you wish to meetup, our preferred meeting point is Toa Payoh Central.

* All prices quoted are in SGD.

South Korea is fine

2010-11-26T06:36:00.005+09:00

The recent firing from North Korea has brought about much concern so I decided I should post this. Because we are so unaffected, it never came to my mind that I should be explaining that we are still operating as usual.

Other than the small island which got affected directly, the whole of Korea is still functioning as normal. No physical damage done here but in terms of emotional and mental damage, I would say we are indeed affected. The loss of the innocent people and the sight of the victims living in a shelter for nights (on TV) is just too much to take. We are all praying that it doesn't go on to something more serious.

Please be assured that The Korean Baby is still operating as usual and international mail is not in the least bit affected at all.

Singapore travelling plans

2010-11-12T15:37:00.006+09:00

We haven't been blogging for a long time because we are busy at our store and also with our travel plans for 2011. We are travelling back to SG on 29th Jan~26 Feb 2011.

From now till 31st December 2010, we are open to handcarry orders. Please send us email at jen.soo@thekoreanbaby.com.

Payment method:
100% of the payment must be completed to secure the order. We accept payment by local funds transfer to our POSB savings bank.

Handling charges:
On top of item price, 50~70% of the original shipping charges will be applied. The handling charges is dependant on weight/bulk).

Deadline:
This will be on a first come first serve basis and we will close the offer early if all slots are taken.

Meeting up/local postage:
We will send the items to you by local registered mail or by meeting up personally. Our preferred meeting place is Toa Payoh Central.

Shipping fee reduced for I-Phyeonhae Boom carrier!

2010-09-08T10:21:00.002+09:00

We have received feedback that shipping for the Boom carrier at $28 (registered mail with tracking) is on the steep side so we have now added the option for regular airmail at $15.

Click here to purchase at our site now!

Pororo trollery suitcase for kids

2010-09-01T15:04:00.002+09:00

These days, my daughter has been pestering me to buy new toys, shoes, bags, books for her. Thanks to the influence from school. >.<

And since we are going on a family vacation soon I thought maybe having her carry her own suitcase will be cool. So I bought this Pororo one for her. I am totally LOVING it.. I like it more than my own suitcase. It is a total miniature of an adult suitcase with all the functions and very well made!!

So I decided to add this item for our store!! I believe many kids will love this.

Check our store for more details.

Customized teaspoon & fork sets for dol/baek-il favors

2010-08-25T14:01:00.006+09:00

Due to popular demand, we recently took on a new project for party favors - laser printed teaspoon & fork set.

Koreans love to give out customized favors to their guests of the party. These high quality stainless 18-10 teaspoon and fork sets are practical and cute. Tell us what you want to print on them and select your desired fonts and icons. Each set comes gift wrapped and with a customized sticker printed just for you. For more info on ordering, please check out our store.

New project - name chop

2010-07-27T22:23:00.004+09:00

I have always been a great lover for oriental/traditional stuff. I love those Chinese character name chops simply for the reason that they are so oriental and classic. In Korea everyone owns a name chop (dojang 도장). Koreans use it on all documents alongside their signature. When I gave birth to my daughter 4 years ago, one of the first things my husband did was to get her a name chop. Even a baby has one! But it was a cheap and normal wooden kind which cost only like $2.

Over the weekend, I actually was planning to start on this new project for my store. I wanted to take in orders for name chops. And while searching for the right supplier, I ended up doing one for her because I just couldn't resist and now I am totally in LOVE with this set. I will be doing another one for my son.

Check our store for details on ordering.

Thanksgiving July~~~

2010-07-23T10:03:00.003+09:00

It is thanksgiving time at The Korean Baby.
July is our best month in over 3 years of internet business!!!!! And to thank all our July customers, we are giving away a freebie.

Here's how to enter:
1. Open to anyone who purchased something in July.
2. Go to our facebook page and "like" us so you can start posting on our wall.
3. Write what you like in our store that is less than US$15. Start with "July - my fav item is ~~~"

Ends 31st July. Winner will be announced 1st week of August.

Good Luck!!

Customized towels for Dol/Baek-il favors

2010-07-20T06:29:00.006+09:00

There are countless ideas when it comes to party favors in Korea. Other than the most common stuffs like dduk or candy, Koreans LOVE customized items with baby's name and birthday.
That's what inspired us to take on this new project - customized towels.

These towels are made of 100% high quality soft cotton. Check our site for more details.

Pororo "yo" mattress set

2010-06-29T23:13:00.003+09:00

I have to be secretive when posting this because my daughter will insist she wants a set too. Check this super cute Pororo mattress set. It's Korean culture to sleep on the floor on a "yo" which means a mattress, like a futon in Japan. This set is single size and is suitable for newborns up to adults. It comes with the mattress and mattress case, comforter and pillow. I am very particular about mattresses so I specially picked the Mokhwa som (cotton filling) to go with this set for our store. The reason why I love Mokhwa som is because it is fluffy and the mattress is really cushiony compared to polyester filled mattresses. Polyester is cheaper but after a few months, the mattress just sinks and you can't use it anymore.
All my mattresses at home are cotton filled and even after 6 years, they are still as fluffy as new!

Now, this set is really huge and heavy so only EMS express mail is available. See our site for more details.

World Cup 2010 - Freebie from the Korean Baby!

2010-06-23T08:27:00.006+09:00

23th June 2010 - Korea is advancing to the next round!!! Everyone is in festival mood today and we are here to celebrate with you with these little goodies.

To participate (ends 25th June 2010, Korea time):

1. Join our facebook page and "like" us.
2. Post your cheer for the Korea team. It can be in English or Korean.
3. Remember to write your choice of freebie (bandana or lighted headband).

The winner with the most creative cheer will walk away with your choice. Here's our page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Korean-Baby/162670874844?ref=sgm

Writing articles for KOKO Living

2010-06-19T23:57:00.003+09:00

I am so happy to start on this new adventure. That is to write articles for KOKO Living.
KOKO Living is an online community for Korean American ladies/mommies in the US. To me, this website is like an online magazine. It is growing and I am excited and proud to be contributing to its growth.

I have always liked writing. Especially after I came to Korea, I find myself wanting to talk about my life in Korea, life as a foreigner here, the things I see here,the difference in culture, people, etc. Just voicing out anything I want to say, anything I want to inform people about. I finally got such a chance and I am so looking forward to writing more articles for it.

Check out this article that I wrote about the no-bed culture in Korea.

Pororo learning books

2010-06-19T23:46:00.003+09:00

My 4 year old daughter has inspired me to add more books to our store. Seeing her preschool activity books made me realise kids NEED books!! That's why I added these Pororo learning books which are not only for Pororo fans. I think kids learn best with pictures and fun. I always loved fun learning when I was a child. Books without colors or pictures were considered NONO.

Choose to color and learn Hangeul, ABC, numbers or paste stickers according to the theme. Suitable for about 4~7 years old. Watch out for more Korean learning books to come~~~

Click here to purchase at our store.

Dibo the gift dragon handiplast bandaid

2010-06-15T15:45:00.005+09:00

Finally Dibo is coming out with more merchandise... :)
Check these Dibo handiplast bandaid for kids. Contains 16pcs in assorted sizes.
If you are planning on a Dibo themed party, these will make good giveways!

Click here to purchase at our store.

Summer is officially here and so are the mosquitoes!!

2010-06-15T15:25:00.006+09:00

I love summer but one of the things I dislike about it is MOSQUITOES!!!
Even when we turn the aircon on, mosquitoes can find a way to get through and bite the tender skin of my kids. The skin is inflammed due to scratching, more mosquito bites are found every other day, every morning we wake up to see blood and flattened mosquitoes on our pillows.. awful!

Good thing is we have these anti mosquito patches and now they even come in cute characters!!
Click here to purchase from our store.

World Cup 2010 - Fighting Korea!

2010-06-13T23:47:00.006+09:00

Last night was like a festival to everyone in Korea because Korea won in their first opening match in the World Cup.
2:0 against Greece.

Everyone in the neighborhood was shouting with joy. Here at home, we put on our red devil bandana before the match started and got stuck onto our seats. The 2 kids were playing wildly because it was past bedtime and nobody was tucking them into bed. Beer and snacks were lying all over the place. Our Korean Ajershi at home just kept making the kids cheer "대~한민국" (clap clap clap clap clap).

OK, our house was in a big mess but everyone was happy because we won!

Get the Red Devil (붉은 악마) horn bandana to cheer for Korea in their next match!!

Pororo kids teeshirts

2010-05-10T16:38:00.006+09:00

I have been getting new tee shirts for my kids this summer and the 2 most popular cartoon characters are non other than Thomas and Pororo. While searching for them, I found some very lovely Pororo ones and cannot resist not listing them in our store. Since I came from the fashion industry, I am very particular about the quality of cotton in tee shirts and will only list the good ones.
I usually do not stock on clothing because it's difficult to manage inventory for the different sizing so I will probably keep to ordering just 1 size, for 3~4 years old.

Let us know if you are interested in Pororo clothing. They will be priced at $19.90 (shipping is $5.50).

These are store pictures which are not that clear. I am working on my own pictures and will be listing soon.

The doshirak (lunchbox) culture

2010-05-02T16:30:00.004+09:00

Last week my daughter had the 1st excursion trip in her life. The school took them on a spring field trip to some park and mothers were supposed to prepare the lunchbox. It is a different culture from Singapore. Not sure how the kindergartens do it now but in my time, we had the option to either bring food from home or to buy our lunch at public places like the food centres or Macdonalds. So we all loved excursions because they meant Macdonalds. :p

I had to wake up at 6am to prepare the food for her. Usually Korean mothers will make the kimbab (california roll) but it was too time consuming. I just did a quick one - rice balls (Japanese styled onigiri) and whipped up an egg roll (Korean's kyeran mari).

She totally loved the Hello Kitty lunchbox set. I am glad that I could just use the Hello Kitty stuff from my inventory for her. Presenting the very 1st time ever doshirak for my little Korean Baby, Jaimie.

Pororo wrapping paper

2010-04-27T13:36:00.003+09:00

I have been listing many new items in our store this month. I got the inspiration from my little Korean baby (my daughter) and every day brings new ideas to me. The school has a birthday party every month for the kids who were born in that month. We have to give presents like pencils, stickers, hairclips, etc.. those little knick knacks that kids love. When it comes to presents, wrapping papers stand an important role. My daughter insisted on opening the present wrapped in the Pororo wrapper first. I didn't know they have Pororo wrapping paper. How cute!

Dibo

2010-04-20T14:13:00.004+09:00

Recently I have been getting inquiries from fellow Singaporeans regarding Dibo items. That's why I decided to add more Dibo stuff. Unfortunately, like I've said before, there are not many Dibo items in Korea because Pororo is much more popular. Anyway I am trying my best to list as many as I can.

Hello Kitty sandwich mould cutter

2010-04-20T14:09:00.003+09:00

I came across while searching for Hello Kitty stuff. How cute!
It will be nice to have Hello Kitty sandwiches for a party or for bento. This is made in Japan under Sanrio Japan and not Korea.

Photo banners + printed balloons

2010-04-12T15:32:00.005+09:00

I had the honour to help plan the 1st birthday party of Tracy's boy, Matthew. Tracy got a photo banner in the robot design and some printed balloons with Korean text. I love how the balloons were tied together - something different from the typical birthday setting which you will see in Korea.

I believe everyone had the best birthday party that day. Happy Belated Birthday Matthew, you are one blessed boy!

Special sale on I-Phyeonhae Boom baby carrier

2010-03-31T15:29:00.004+09:00

We are having a special 10% off on the I-Phyeonhae Boom baby carriers from now till further notice.

For Singaporeans, as usual, please send in your order by email to jen.soo@thekoreanbaby.com.

Prices in SGD:
Solid version - S$99
Printed version - S$108

Back to school ~~ Pororo art time apron and sleeves

2010-03-13T15:49:00.005+09:00

How functional and cute! I just got one of these for my daughter for school. She has been wanting one and I have been putting it off but finally her chance came when her teacher requested that we get an apron for art time. I knew it has to be a Pororo one. I like the fact that they come with the little sleeves separately so those little arms can move easily when painting.

Back to school~~~

2010-03-08T21:15:00.006+09:00

Last week my daughter started pre-school and all of a sudden, I found myself having to dig stuff out from my inventory for her to use at school. I really liked this idea of "saving money" :)

The Korean play schools or kindergarten are such that kids will lunch and nap in school and we are supposed to provide whatever is required. For lunch, we were given a stainless lunchbox plate as a gift when we signed her up. And I had to top it up with the Hello Kitty chopsticks set, the one that comes with the little box. The kids will finish lunch and bring the dirty lunchboxes and cutlery home for us mothers to wash. How "brilliant" !
So I had to give her the ones that come with the box.

As for nap time, besides quilt and mattress (yes we had to bring to school too!), she got the Hello Kitty buckwheat husks pillow and she loved it. I think she is happy to get presents from my inventory because each time she sees me stock up on those cute items she will ask if they are for her. The answer is always - "no, it's for the baby in another country". How sad! :p

And because of those BPA issues, I decided to get her a stainless waterbottle. While searching, I found more Pororo items and knew I had to add them to my store because they are just too cute to resist!!

I was asked to blog !!!! (Koko Living, KAM)

2010-03-05T15:08:00.004+09:00

Yesterday was an overwhelming day for me. My daughter (coming 4yrs old) started school for the first time in her life. I had so many things to prepare and trips to make, so my mind was in a mess.

In the midst of these, I got a pleasant email from Kathy, the owner of Koko Living, a social community for Korean-American women. I was asked to blog about my products in her site! Yes, I am excited about the free advertising part but above all, I am most excited about the fact that my work, my store is being recognised and someone in the other part of the world actually knows me and The Korean Baby.

In actual fact, I am still finding my way around Koko Living and KAM (Korean American Mommies) on Facebook. But I am already kind of blown away by the big community there!

Once again, I would like to thank Kathy for this chance.

Fellow Singaporeans, pls help Charmaine.

2010-02-24T15:17:00.007+09:00

A friend of mine told me about Charmaine. I didn't know about her story because I was in Korea and never got to see/hear about it on the media in Singapore. I never pitied or felt the pain personally for people in need especially for children until I became a mother myself.

I know there are many people suffering but Charmaine is almost the same age as my elder daughter and her mama Cynthia is 1 year younger than me so it's like as if we are friends. I cannot imagine my daughter having to suffer that way too or me having to shuttle between hospital and home, home and hospital.

My husband comes home late like 11pm or sometimes 1~2am most of the time and being "alone" here in Korea with 2 toddlers the whole day, most of the times I find myself going crazy because of the screaming, crying, fighting for toys, etc. - the typical toddler behavior. But at least I have that 11pm (husband coming home) to look forward to but Cynthia doesn't. :(
It must be so lonely physically and mentally for Cynthia to be alone in NY with her 2 kids, not there on holiday but seeking treatment for her sick child. How very very sad.

I want to offer mental and emotional support if I can but I don't know how I can since I am in Korea. Like most people, I figured the only help I can offer is in monetary terms.

I want to let all Singaporeans know that whenever you shop at our site, part of the proceeds will go to Charmaine so she can continue to seek treatment. Because I watched on TV before that most of the times, in most cases, children with cancer CAN get cured with treatment but if without the money, it's not possible. I know I cannot afford to help her with that half a million USD or something but I believe if everyone is willing to do what they can, the end result can be big.

But I think above anything else, just keeping her in our thoughts is more important.

Charmaine and family, Jia You!!!

SPRING SALE! on all I-Phyeonhae carriers

2010-02-21T09:54:00.005+09:00

The long awaited sale is here! We are having a sale on all I-Phyeonhae carriers.
Get your favourite chunei (cotton or mesh) or the Boom carrier.

* Until 6th March 2010 *

Stamp stamp stamp!

2010-02-19T23:45:00.006+09:00

I remember when I was in school, I loved getting the "Well done", "Excellent" chop on my book. I believe stamping is something most kids, even adults love. Stamping in hangeul sounds more fun because you match the consonants and vowels one by one - how challenging!!
My daughter will be starting pre-school in 2 weeks' time and I reckon it will be fun stamping on her books and stuff so I had to get one set for myself.

How to stamp your Korean name (example: 사랑해):
[ㅅ]+[ㅏ] = 사

[ㄹ] + [ㅏ] + [ㅇ] = 랑

[ㅎ] + [ㅐ] = 해

Click here to purchase at our store.

Happy lunar new year 2010

2010-02-12T15:02:00.001+09:00

Happy lunar new year!! It's the year of the tiger - 2010. And it's also Valentine's day. :)
This year's lunar new year (설날 - seol nal) is snowy in Korea. It's ironic because 설 (seol) in Korean also means snow but of course it's not supposed to mean snow day but then it's snowing!!

We wish everyone a prosperous and fulfilling year.
새해 복 많이 받으세요.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!

Woori ring sling

2010-02-10T14:10:00.002+09:00

Due to popular demand from Singaporean mamas, I am listing this again. I used to order the Woori ring sling but because their prints are always changing so often, I just didn't include it in my store.

Anyway here is the Woori no danger ring sling. It is the upgraded version with 2 ringpads that are like loops for you to slide baby's legs through. If you don't like you can just disregard it and use it like a regular sling.

Click here for more details.

Little prince 3pc cutlery set

2010-02-05T14:33:00.002+09:00

I am totally in love with this little prince cutlery set and had to get them for our store. Aren't they adorable?

I can't wait for my son Jadon to grow and then I will treat him to one of these while my daughter already has the hello kitty ones. Love that they are stainless 18-10 and the color just don't tarnish.

Click here to purchase from our store.

Customize your Korean baby's birthday party!!

2010-01-28T16:03:00.004+09:00

Koreans are very into party decorations especially when it comes to baby's birthday. I love that they have customized banner, printed balloons and all party stuff in just one stop. The best part is, it's very affordable. There are just countless things to prepare for the party so I can't provide all info in one blog listing but let's just start with this basic package with balloons, banner and garland banner that costs only about $20. Then we get to add on more and more if you like. I am so happy to be able to help mamas of Korean babies work on the birthday parties because this is real fun and I have done mine 3 years ago. ^.^

Visit our store for more details.

2010-01-23T16:42:00.004+09:00

By popular demand from Singaporean mamas, I am now listing this in our store.

I know the aircon in Singapore is freezing so most mothers always want to cover their babies with something. This is thin and lightweight. Folds float and can stuff into the diaper bag for "emergency" use. It works well with back pack carriers because of the clips.

Click here to purchase from our store.

New! Hello Kitty buckwheat husks pillow

2010-01-23T16:32:00.009+09:00

There are many kinds of pillows in Korea ranging from jade, green tea, herb, peach seed, rice, buckwheat husks, etc.. I must say the pillow culture is indeed very funky.

One of the most commonly used is the buckwheat husks pillow.

I remember before I gave birth, my mother wanted to make a "rice" pillow. She claimed they used it in the olden days for sleeping babies. Because the pillows take the shape of whatever is being laid on or wherever it rests on, the pillow will drape nicely over baby's stomach and the weight will create some security for the sleeping baby.

Buckwheat husks pillow have become so easily available now that we do not have to make them by ourselves anymore. I like the fact that the buckwheat husks are “airy” and not only for the stomach, they work well for the head too. The pillow takes on the shape of the baby’s head, creating a natural contour for the head/neck. The husks also produce a soothing sandy sound.

I recently came across these in Hello Kitty designs! And the best part is, it's licensed produced by Sanrio Korea. Wow!! Of course I had to get hold of a few for our store. :)

Click here to purchase from our store.

Kids smiley 3pc cutlery set

2010-01-16T00:07:00.004+09:00

This is one of our latest arrivals! Punched out smiley cutlery set that should bring a smile to your child during meal times. :)

Click here to purchase at our store.

Happy 2010 - it is snowy week in Korea

2010-01-04T17:08:00.004+09:00

This year in Korea, the new year starts with snow, snow and more snow.

Since last week, it had been snowing on and off in most parts of Korea. Today, it started to snow from 2am and is still snowing (5pm now). I was supposed to go drop parcels at the post office but managed to get my husband to do it cos I can't manage 2 kids in the snow plus the so many parcels.. most flights have been cancelled and I am getting worried about the shipping time being delayed. Nevetheless, here's wishing everyone a happy new year!

(our neighborhood scene from outside my balcony)

A belated Merry Christmas '09!

2009-12-29T15:27:00.004+09:00

Sorry this is coming late but here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!!!
The Korean Baby was travelling so we have not updated in a while but we are now back in full force!!

Here's also wishing a prosperous and exciting new year in the coming 2010. 새해 복 많이 받으세요!!!

Elegant Korean greeting cards

2009-11-19T18:11:00.004+09:00

I was planning to list some greeting cards for the new year but found these instead. I am a great lover of anything zen, oriental or nostalgic. I just love these and wish I had my wedding invitation cards printed on these.

They are blank on the inside and I personally like blank ones compared to the "Happy New Year" ones so we can keep them for all occasions.

Click here to purchase at our store.

Special promo for Flower Blue chunei + diaper bag

2009-11-12T21:41:00.002+09:00

We are having a special promotion for the Flower Blue cotton chunei + matching diaper bag. The bag retails at $14.90 but is now only $5 when you purchase with the chunei. No additional shipping fee to ship with the chunei.

Click here to purchase at our store.

Cute Hello Kitty 2-tier stainless lunchbox

2009-11-12T15:39:00.002+09:00

Back in secondary and poly days, I was a great hello kitty fan. But it's really to keep up with the kitty trends and products... so I decided to quit.. :(

I have a feeling it's coming back now!!

I really love this 2 tier stainless steel lunchbox. The bag looks kind of funky too.

I don't have use for this yet but I am thinking maybe it will be useful when my daughter starts elementary school here. Koreans have a great passion for lunchboxes - 도시락 (doshirak)

Check our store for this.

"Proud to be Korean" stickers

2009-11-06T22:14:00.013+09:00

While doing my fashion design course 10 years ago, my interest in graphic design grew. It's mainly about logos but really very simple ones. Since then, I've always had lots of ideas but somehow just couldn't put them onto flat drawing. Today I got a sudden inspiration - I wanted to do a sticker that talks about Korean pride.

My inspiration source is that little sticker (I'm proud I'm Kor) which I got 3 years ago from a local gift shop. I got many of those and used them as giveaways with every purchase of a baby carrier, only to mamas whose babies are Korean. I kept one for myself. I know I'm not Korean :p but I meant to keep it for my daughter. Anyway I want more of these now but the store doesn't have them anymore.

I HAD to come up with something and here's what I got. It's mainly using the same "Korean" word/font as my store design. I am planning to get in contact with the printer and work on the type of paper, coating etc...but first I need to decide on the size.

Which one do you like better?

Size: will be approx. 2.5" x 1.25" (Small)

Size: will be approx 5" x 2.5" (Big)

I will be introducing them to our store and will most likely do the giveaway thing again. I also want to have them for anyone who wants to order. Say set of 10?

p/s: i JUST realised the alignment is abit out...but i will work on the final one..this is a specimen anyway. ^^

Personalised name chopsticks & spoon set

2009-10-29T15:34:00.008+09:00

kids set

2pc couple set

update.....

We are also able to print Chinese characters provided the desired characters are being used in the Korean language because you know certain characters are not available in the Korean's hanja.

I am so excited about this!! I will be working with the local printers to get laser printing done on chopsticks and spoon sets. I managed to convince them to let me purchase single sets but with a slight upcharge. Laser printing is tedious, so they are getting alot of work done just to print ONE set. Wow! Thank you Mr. Laser Printer. :)

We will be having kids, couples and single sets.

Visit our store for more info.

The Korean Baby is on facebook

2009-10-29T15:31:00.002+09:00

We finally got the page set up but still need more fans. My husband was just teasing me "your fans are all your friends!"

Pls come be a fan and keep yourself updated of our updates!!

Cherry blossom chopsticks gift set sale!

2009-10-27T22:56:00.004+09:00

We are having a sale for the above item in our store. Usual price is $34.90 but on sale now at $29.90. Only for a limited period.

Get a FREE headrest with the chunei!

2009-10-14T21:41:00.008+09:00

This is a special promotion for the Flower Red chunei in regular size. We are throwing in a FREE matching headrest which normally costs $12.90.

Click here to purchase.

* While stocks last.*

Stroller covers

2009-09-30T07:40:00.003+09:00

Click here to purchase at our store

I have been wanting to post these but just didn't work on them. Sorry for being lazy!

These Manito covers are great for strollers. I have the clear transparent one bought years back before the colored ones came out. I got it for the winter and then recently the colored ones (even better for winter) came out. >.<

They come in 5 colors but I love the grey one best.

Happy Chusok '09

2009-09-28T10:47:00.003+09:00

This coming weekend 3rd Oct '09 will be the week of Chusok in Korea. It's supposed to be mid autumn and a time for harvest and thanksgiving. How I miss the chinese mid autumn festival with mooncakes and tea. Anyway we wish everyone a happy Chusok!

Dibo stuff

2009-09-22T10:08:00.002+09:00

I have been getting many inquires from fellow Singaporeans about Dibo so I thought I should post this.
Unfortunately even though Dibo is a Korean made animation, there are very few Dibo merchandise in Korea. The most common ones are Pororo and Thomas even though Thomas is not originally Korean.
Therefore I am unable to post updated Dibo items but will do so if I do come across new ones.

Pororo hangeul professor rocks.... at least for us!

2009-09-21T08:47:00.005+09:00

My 3.5 yr old Jaimie knew all the letters of the alphabet since about a year ago but she knew nothing about Korean hangeul.. because I did not bother to teach her. :p

Her Papa had been complaining and ok I thought I needed to do something. Thanks to a Korean friend of mine who recommend this Pororo Hangeul Bak-sa (Hangeul professor). She claimed it's very good because it comes with the sound of the words and with pics and kids will somehow pick it up on their own. It also comes with some flash cards. I just "threw" this toy to her and she indeed picked it up on her own (easy for me!!)!!!

She is now able to read about 10 words even without the pictures.. this is one good thing about Korean characters - it's easy to pick up.

I think I need to think of how to make her read English words, which I think is not so easy :(

Our travel plan for 2009

2009-09-10T15:57:00.007+09:00

We will be travelling back to Singapore from end Nov '09 and we are open to handcarry orders from now until 31st October 2009.

It will be on a first come first serve basis and is subject to weight and baggage limit. Please refer to our store for information on handcarry orders.

Babywearing cape for winter

2009-09-08T22:16:00.002+09:00

Another item for winter preparation. This is a babywearing cape meant for keeping baby warm in the cold. It is made of polar fleece which is also my favourite material for winter. There are tonnes of such capes in Korea and I am struggling to put them all up. Let me know if you need any specific design. Also available in velvet or different designs like with bunnies etc..

Click here to view more details at our store.

Korean chopsticks gift sets

2009-09-08T15:26:00.004+09:00

Many people have been asking me for chopsticks gift sets so I decided it's time I got some new stock. Gift sets for birthday, wedding or housewarming.

I often get this question - are your chopsticks stainless 18-10? Yes for almost all of them. Having started off as a chopsticks seller in ebay without knowing anything about stainless steel, I am now very into chopsticks and also very particular about the quality. I really hate cleaning my old teaspoons with baking soda once a month. Those spoons were given by my mom before I got married.. apparently not stainless 18-10. :(

So if you are planning to get Korean stainless steel chopsticks, please be sure to check for the quality if you want to use them over a long period of time.

Click here to purchase at our store.

Winter preparation

2009-09-03T23:46:00.004+09:00

I have been wanting to list seasonal items and I am planning to start with the coming winter. As a mother myself, I always shop for new stuff for my kids before the new season starts. Their outgrowing of the current items gives me a good excuse to spend. :)

By the way, look what I just found, super cute Hello Kitty winter gloves! Maybe I should get one for my daughter (?).

Click here to view at our store.