Hello!

I LOVE CHINESE New Year but it's always a crazy time in my household. First, there's the stress of shopping for new clothes for my two young daughters. Then, there's the spring-cleaning. I'm not a hoarder, but somehow, over the last 12 months, I've managed to accumulate bagfuls of junk. I also have countless boxes of old yearbooks, photo albums, journals and other memorabilia - things that will never see the light of day unless I'm feeling sentimental. And what about the grocery shopping and cooking? Just thinking about it is tiring!

In this issue, we've put together a CNY survival guide for you. It's perfect for busy women who want to know how to get through the madness of the season... without going mad. You'll find some excellent tips for de-hoarding your home on page 26 (love letters from ex-boyfriends - to keep or not to keep?), fashion buys for your little ones (page 104), as well as suggestions on where to buy yu sheng, bak kwa and pineapple tarts (page 130) - yes, we sampled plenty of festive treats to bring you the best in terms of taste, presentation and value.

We're also big on love this month - self love, that is. For a change, why not celebrate all YOUR amazing qualities this Valentine's Day? One woman who has loads of self-love secrets to share is Sarah Jessica Parker. She's been unfairly criticised for her looks on several occasions, but instead of drowning her hurt in cosmetic surgery or drugs, she stood up to her detractors, without letting them define the way she feels about herself. Way to go, Sarah! We couldn't think of a more inspiring celebrity to grace our February cover. Turn to page 84 to see which other famous women inspire us with their self-confidence.

Here's to a fabulous month!

We’re looking for women to feature in our fashion and beauty pages. If you are photogenic and enjoy posing for the camera, we invite you to sign up as a non-professional model for Simply Her. Just send us a few headshots and full-length pictures of yourself, and include your name, age, address, cellphone number and NRIC. E-mail magsimplyher@sph.com.sg.

PS, thanks for all your lovely letters. E-mail us at magsimplyher@sph.com.sg or write to us at 82 Genting Lane, Media Centre, Level 7, S(394567) and keep sending in your wonderful ideas.

PHOTOGRAPHY WONG WEI LIANG STYLING DEBRA WONG HAIR LAWRENCE TAN (9762-9399) MAKEUP MAY PAN (9791-8879) DRESS EXPECTANT BY COLETTE LOCATION HOTEL RE