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Unique Places to Throw Your Kid’s Birthday Party

As a mother of two, I love planning themed birthday parties for my kids and finding unique ideas to execute to make their birthdays extra special. In fact, when my daughter was 4 years old, we came up with a list of fun party themes we could do in the coming years. But I find that as the years go by, we start to slowly run out of ideas. So, I thought what better way than to compile a list of unique places to hold a party for parents who are struggling to think of fun things to do around KL and PJ. From a whimsical kids spa to rolling fun and exciting outdoor adventures, these unique kids’ party ideas will turn the special day into an unforgettable experience.

Jac & Ivy

Get a pampering kids nail spa experience at Jac and Ivy. Kids get wrapped in luscious mini-sized ropes (yes, they have one for both girls and boys) and sip drinks while getting kid-friendly face masks and water-based manicures and pedicures. The spa uses Puttisu products from Korea, which have 100% kid-friendly and non-toxic ingredients which are suitable for children ages 3 and up. Kids get their own little corner for their pamper session on mini chairs, while parents can also relax and indulge in a nail session of their own. Jac and Ivy also create a special birthday tea party with mini treats, decorations, and they can even get a photography session on the spot with Stories.

For more information visit: https://www.jacandivy.com/kidz-spa

Rollerwa

Get the party rollin’ with roller skates! Roller skating is making a big comeback and what better way to do it with a cool laser-light ambience filled with the latest k-pop songs? At Rollerwa, there are plenty of Instagram-worthy places to take photos and places to rest if your feet get tired. If you are new to skating, fear not! They offer walkers on wheels for beginner skaters on weekdays, and there are places at the side with less slippery mats and hand-holding bars for you to practice your skating skills. If your kid is an avid skater, they are allowed to even bring their own quad roller skates (no rollerblades). They provide both skates and safety gear so you just need to show up. For birthday events, Rollerwa has a private party room set aside, which allows you to bring your own food and drinks for the special occasion.

For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/rollerwaMalaysia

Photo credit: Discover KL

MAD about Education

If your kids love the outdoors, this is the party for them. Explore outdoor nature adventures through activities that are not only fun, but educational as well. MAD about Education uses nature environments such as forests, lakes, parks and even beaches to curate a special, exciting birthday party for your kids following their interests. Kids get to explore mangroves, dig for sea creatures, and go on a wonderful picnic.

For more information visit: https://madabouteducation.com/birthday-party /


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A Christmas Gift Guide

In recent years, Christmas has become a festivity celebrated by many (doesn’t matter what race or religion you are). I mean, who doesn’t love gifts? It’s the season of gifting! But gift shopping can be stressful (we know), and most of us don’t have the luxury of time to go out and shop for them. Fret not, we live in a digital world where everything, including gift shopping, can be at your fingertips. So here’s a list of Christmas gift ideas for young families that we’ve compiled for you busy bees, which you can get by heading to their website or dropping them a quick message. These are all Malaysian-owned brands, so you’ll be supporting another family or small business by buying from them!

The Kraft Store

The Kraft Store offers beautiful and essential handpicked goods such as bath towels, toys, feeding accessories, and books for your little ones. They have a good selection to choose from, so go check out their website to place your order.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekraftstoremy/

Link to purchase: https://thekraftstoremy.cococart.co/

The Flight of Imagination

Together with makchic, we have created an endearing photo storybook experience that combines professional photos of your family taken by Stories, whimsical illustrations by Munsya Rahman, and a heartwarming story by makchic’s Kimberly Lee about the power of creativity and the joy of creating moments and memories. Created for children between the ages 3-8, this book will become a family heirloom worth treasuring. Don’t miss out on our current promotion we’re running for this (ends 31st December 2023).

Link to find out more: https://stories.my/flight-of-imagination/

Dough Little

Dough Little playdough kits are safe to play by children starting the age of 1. Their playdough boxes and kits are based on open-ended play concepts, whereby there aren’t definitive instructions and expectations while the child is at play. Children are encouraged to explore each box and create something amazing within the given theme (examples: create habitats, food, characters, vehicles etc).


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dough.little.playdough/

Website: https://www.doughlittle.com/

Mils and Key x Stories Newborn Gift Pack

Malaysian owned, Mils & Key’s mission is to curate and create safe, functional, sustainable, and stylish modern baby products. Coupled with a photoshoot that can be used for a maternity, newborn or family session, these gift packs that include Mils & Keys aesthetic looking yet functional products are a great gift for the expecting mom. ⁠

Link to find out more: https://stories.my/product/mils-key-gift-pack/

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2023 Year End Reflections

We don’t remember days, we remember moments.

This quote is at the forefront of our Stories’ Lifestyle website and is one that speaks deeply to our team. At the core of it, our job has been to immortalise your happy moments through photographs and videos. This year we went beyond that by engaging with community and creating experiences for families to make new and unique memories together.

Here’s some of the moments we remember from this year!

Engaging with community at the Ibu and Makchic Events

We were happy to be invited to both events held by Ibu and Makchic this year, two organisations whose work we love dearly. At the events we created a mobile studio setup and took complimentary family photos. It was really nice to be able to give the event goers a little momento to bring home with them and to give some families who may not have stepped into a studio a chance for a professionally taken family photo!

Father’s Day Beach Adventure

We worked with educational program organiser Mad About Education (“MAE”) to create a unique Father’s Day experience where families spent a morning in Pantai Kelanang where we engaged in some play activities, explored mangroves and of course, took family photos! The event was such a success we got requests for similar experiences immediately. (Psst.. we’re in the midst of planning more of these, so stay tuned!)



The Flight of Imagination

And finally.. our proudest creation of the year! I’m sure you’ve heard of personalised children’s book where the text is changed to reflect the child’s name. Together with the team at Makchic, author Kimberly Lee and illustrator Munsya Rahman, we created a one of its kind personalised photo storybook experience where not only are the names personalised, so are the pictures in the book – replaced with photos of your own family. The process in taking the photos and having them be a part of a book, not to mentioned to actual unboxing and seeing your images will be an experience your family will treasure forever!

Looking back, we are so proud to have all of you along for the ride as we continue to create memories worth making. We look forward to seeing all of you again in 2024!

Oh! Don’t miss out on the promotion we’re running for The Flight of Imagination Book Experience! Click on the button below to find out more.

Take me to The Flight of Imagination

Our founder, Grace Tan, has also written a year-end reflection on our business website. Do check it out here!

5 Ways to Treasure Your Pregnancy Journey

Pregnancy is a special time in a woman’s life – full of anticipation, excitement, and joy. However, there is often so much to prepare for that we sometimes get lost, focusing on the to-dos, instead of savouring all the special little moments.

Here are some tips for treasuring your pregnancy, and making the journey just that little bit more special:

1. Take the time to prepare your home

Babies may be small, but they can take up a significant amount of space. From diapers to bottles to clothes, the list of things to buy may seem endless! But shopping for your baby shouldn’t have to be stressful.

Whether it’s a nursery, or carving out a corner in your current room, take the time to think about what works for you and your home. Make a list and run it through with experienced mums. Knowing exactly what items you’ll get also prepares you to designate storage space for the things you need and want, so you don’t end up with more than you can handle.

In the end, having that cozy nook prepared in advance for your little one’s arrival will help build anticipation. Plus, a photogenic corner will help you capture the special moments of your journey.

2. Keep a journal – or even better, a pregnancy scrapbook

Keeping a pregnancy journal is a wonderful way to capture your thoughts and experiences throughout the nine months. You can record your feelings, your hopes and wishes for your baby, your cravings, your daily routines, and more.

For something a bit more special, consider scrapbooking instead. You can include ultrasound photos, baby shower invitations, congratulatory cards, and other mementos. Years later, you’ll be able to look back on these items and remember this special time in your life.

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How to Overcome Challenging Situations During a Shoot

When you book a photo or video shoot, you hope for a smooth and stress-free experience. However, unexpected challenges may arise, and it’s essential to know how to handle them effectively. As a customer, it can be overwhelming to deal with a crying child or feeling frazzled from a tough day. Here are some ways to overcome challenging situations during your shoot.

It’s Okay Not to Be Okay

It’s normal to feel a bit stressed or anxious during a photo or video shoot, especially if you have kids involved. Or, you might have been rushing into your shoot session from a hectic work day. Remember that the photographer or videographer you hired is there to help you capture beautiful moments and bring out your best version of yourself. Try to take a moment to settle yourself before going into your session and don’t feel ashamed to express your concerns and needs to your photographer or videographer. 

Bring Distractions

If you have young children, bringing along their favourite toys or games can help keep them occupied and distracted during the shoot. This can help them relax and make the shoot more enjoyable for everyone involved.

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