My J Babies

35 Things You Might Not Know About Kless

2013-06-20T07:00:00.000+08:00

It hardly sounds logical to do a confession like this on my birthday, but I guess that's the good thing about getting older - You become uncontrollably confident about yourself. My list will not be a surprise to my BFFs or friends who grew up together with me, but for the rest of you, today you'll know me better! And yes, I'm turning 35 this year. =D

1. I've been a Christian since I was 12 years old and from then till today, my only ambition has always been to be a full-time church worker. I am glad I am one now.

2. I've only had one boyfriend and after 10 years of courtship and 10 years of marriage, he is now my husband and father of my two girls. I'm darn faithful.

3. I learnt to play the piano on my own by practising the same song thousands of times everyday on the piano in my school hall for 4 years. That is why I can play but can't read musical notes, and I play best by reading guitar chords. Bizarre.

4. I didn't do well enough for my O'Levels prelims to get into my dream Junior College during the first three months, so I auditioned for choir hoping to sneak in using ECA. The Principal called and asked to meet me in his office. He then asked me which stream I would choose if he admitted me. I said "Commerce" to his bewilderment because it was the best stream in the school. The reason I told him was, "Because I only want the best." He admitted me immediately. Where did that boldness come from, I have no idea.

5. I've always wanted daughters and no sons. So when people ask me whether I want to try for a son, I always give a flat, "No, thank you." You have no idea what you're asking. Heh.

6. I can play drums, but only the basic 4/4 beat. I can play the guitar but only the major chords.

7. I have claustrophobia.

8. I was a prefect in my Primary School days.

9. My most rebellious days were also in Primary School when I got booked by prefects everyday for sweating too much during recess time cos I played zero point (rules. =.=). Most embarrassing prefect ever. Always genna booked by peers.

10. I hate being tickled. Especially those 'poke-waist' types. I'd give you the deadliest stare ever if you dare attempt.

11. I am a Hakka who can't speak Hakka.

12. I was born in Malaysia and came over to live in Singapore when I was three years old. All my relatives live in Malaysia.

13. I prefer Kopi-O over Kopi with milk anytime, and have been drinking at least a cup a day for the last 20 years.

14. When I was pregnant with my first kid (Joey), I only realised I was pregnant after I crossed the first trimester. And it was my hubby who noticed that my menses hadn't come for a long time and insisted I use a pregnancy test kit. I tested it only to appease him. :P

15. One of my major pet peeves is having people look into my laptop screen or mobile phone screen and worse, read off the stuffs on it while I am doing something on it. Extremely rude and will totally piss me off.

16. I don't have a driving licence.

17. I am an extremely messy person and I am forever searching for my stuffs everywhere in the house because I don't know where I left them.

18. I like anything with coconut in it. Favourites include Nasi Lemak, lontong, curry etc.

19. I used to be a tambourine dancer in church for ten years, and yes I still remember many of the routines now.

20. My Mandarin is stronger than my English language, both spoken and written.

21. My worst subject was (and still is) Mathematics, but I did my ten-year-series for four times before my O' Levels and I managed to score an A for it.

22. I stayed in NUS Sheares Hall during my first year of University, and totally loved the convenience, freedom and friendships.

23. I dislike sour stuffs.

24. I absolutely adore garlic and ginger. That is the main reason why I enjoyed my confinement tremendously.

25. I had one of the most expensive birthing experiences ever - Induced, epidural administered, no dilation and had to go for emergency C-section on GA. Baby was then placed in NICU for one night for precaution. Expensive Joey.

26. I've never really liked cartoons - not even growing up.

27. I've known my mother-in-law since I was 12 years old.

28. I dislike red wine and beer, and can moderately tolerate white wine. I prefer liquor.

29. I love reading and watching stuffs on interior design. Extremely therapeutic to me.

30. I hate brinjals and tomatoes.

31. I have been 157cm tall since I was 14 years old and I've not grown much since. :X

32. I prefer savoury to sweet. After something sweet, I NEED to eat something salty.

33. I bite my nails since young and the only time I've gone for a manicure was for my wedding when I forced myself not to bite and managed to keep the nails long for a while. I'm still trying to kick the habit.

34. I did high-jump competitively for two years in Primary School. Very ironic, I know.

35. I cannot live without carbo - I get depressed when my meals do not have any rice/pasta/potatoes in them.

Happy Birthday to ME! I'm going for a holiday to celebrate my birthday (in my dreamland)!

Comfort Ultra Pure

2013-06-19T07:00:00.000+08:00

Sponsored Review

As a mom, I am naturally concerned that my kids are well taken care of. Within my means, I want to provide them with the best, and use only the best products on them. With that mentality in mind, I reviewed the Comfort Ultra Pure Softener. In my household, we use fabric softeners in huge quantities because nothing irks us more than hard and rough clothes on our bodies! I see your nodding head.

The review couldn't have come at a better time. My mother-in-law is usually the one in-charged of laundry in my house, but this particular week, she's taken 'leave' and enjoying her little break from taking care of the kids. So, I've taken over all the household chores in the house, and while I've concluded once again that laundering is my least favourite chore of all time, I have to admit that smelling and touching freshly washed clothes, especially of my kids, bring a big smile to my face. I love the Comfort Ultra Pure fabric softener - Makes everything smell really nice!

Specially formulated for delicate and sensitive skin, the Comfort Ultra Pure is hypoallergenic fabric conditioner that has been dermatologically tested to be safe even for the most delicate skin of a baby. Comfort is the most important for my children, especially when their sensitive and delicate skin acts up easily. When a product that is not harsh and catered to the needs of the little ones, I go for it naturally. It's long-lasting fragrance is another main reason why I would use it in every one of my laundry wash. Very few things can be worse than clothes washed but still feels rough and doesn't smell nice and fresh.

With the Comfort Ultra Pure softener added to the wash, the laundry came out really soft and smelling good - Even the kids could tell the difference!

And of course, if you have sensitive and delicate skin as well, opt for Comfort Ultra Pure for your clothes as well - If they are good for kids, you can be sure they are good for you too.

Technorati Tags: Comfort Ultra Pure,advertorial,laundry

School Holiday Ideas: Hello Kitty Town

2013-06-18T07:00:00.000+08:00

Media Invite

It was only a matter of time that we paid a visit to the Hello Kitty Town at Johor Bahru.

Having two girls at home who are crazy over pink stuffs and all things princessy make them natural fans of the Hello Kitty. So when I told them that we were going to visit Hello Kitty Town, they screamed first before asking, "There is a Hello Kitty Town?? Does it mean that Hello Kitty lives there??"

Yes babes, apparently she does.

Getting to Hello Kitty Town at Puteri Harbour is best by driving. But if you do not drive, you can always purchase a package that allows you to board a coach at the Singapore Flyer and includes entrance tickets and travel insurance in some cases. Google and you will find lots of such info on the web. I was very blessed because my parents drove us to the place and waited till the kids had their fair share of fun. I am very blessed to have such great parents.

It's impossible not to get excited when you enter into a place like this. Quite frankly, the little girl in me leapt.

My girls couldn't wait to get in. Our tickets would grant us access to the Hello Kitty Town (Level 2) and the Little Big Club (Levels 3 and 4). Today, I'm only covering Hello Kitty Town.

Everyone will be given a Daily Activity Card upon entrance. Some of the attractions can only be entered once, so the card will be stamped once you enter.

The girls ran so fast when they saw the entrance but the moment I shouted, 'Don't run, take photo!!!', they both stopped and posed for me. Truly professional, hahahahaha!

At the entrance is a counter with performance schedules for the day. Lots of stage shows, photography opportunities, meet-and-greet and special workshops happening the whole day, so it's nice to be there from morning to catch everything.

The first ride the kids took was the Hello Kitty cups & saucers - It was so pretty and princessy!

Then we visited Hello Kitty's house - It must be every little girl's dream house. Everything's sweet and pastel!

What a very cute bath tub!

Then we heard a commotion outside Hello Kitty's house and realised that the Parade has started!! The parade was fun & entertaining! Jayne even joined in the dance towards the end. :)

The most exciting part was of course when the Sanrio characters passed by and shook the kids' hands! =D

The kids then visited the indoor playground - a simple setup compared to where they've been to, but the kids were still excited. Cannot.understand.why.

This next attraction I really like - Hello Kitty Black Wonder. Adults can choose to accomplish a mission if they want to, otherwise they can just tour the place like we did.

Love all the stony surfaces. A very lovely fortress indeed. :)

See what this boy was doing? He was trying to accomplish his mission and he was given a lamp that would illuminate the map when held over it. I think the mission should be pretty interesting with clues to be solved and mysteries to be unravelled.

Clues can be found everywhere in this place - I saw many stressed-looking adults scampering around looking for clues. Haha!

Some of the other things the kids can do at Hello Kitty Town include manicure/pedicure, craft work etc. We didn't try those because of time constraints. The queues for these attractions were naturally longer too because the turnover time is much longer.

Visit this website for more info on Hello Kitty Town. You can also book your tickets online on that website.

Opening Hours:
Monday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Closed on Tuesdays except during school holidays and public holidays.

Ticket Prices:

I'll share about The Little Big Club in another post. That is a magical place for all the little fans of Barney, Thomas & Friends, Angelina Ballerina, Bob The Builder, etc! My kids had a blast! :)

P/S: I received complimentary tickets for my whole family for Hello Kitty Town & Little Big Club. All photographs,videos and comments are solely mine.

Technorati Tags: Hello Kitty Town theme park,Puteri Harbour,Johor Bahru,Malaysia travel,school holidays,kids,children,Hello Kitty Town entrance ticket prices and opening hours

My First Scrapbooking Experience (Review & Giveaway!)

2013-06-17T07:00:00.000+08:00

Sponsored Review

I've always loved crafting but I've never dared to venture into scrapbooking because it looked like it required lots of patience (which I do not have) and a good storage place (which I do not have too). Every time I pass by a scrapbooking supplies shop, I get attracted by all the pretty things inside that it takes super a lot of self-control to walk away without spending a penny. Thanks to Rachel of Scrappin' Love, I had the opportunity to finally attend my first scrapbooking class. It's revived the crafting bug inside of me, and I enjoyed myself tremendously.

The scrapbooking class was held at ET Artisan Sweets at The Grandstand. It was a whimsical and lovely shop - perfect for squeezing out creative juices!

For the class, we had to bring along a photo for the album cover, and all other materials were provided. We were learning how to make a travel album that day - a relatively difficult scrapbooking project for amateurs like me!

Check out the materials provided - So lovely & pretty!!! :)

Some of the papers had been trimmed to size to make it easier for the class participants - Kudos to the lady boss Rachel for being meticulous.

Rachel showed us the sample album she made - it was so professionally and complicatedly done. I was filled with bewilderment at how I could accomplish that by the end of class. =P

So many layers and so 3-dimensional!

The best thing about this scrapbooking project is how you can compile an album without having to stapling anything. Using strings and washi tapes, Rachel taught us how to create an album which can contain all the beautiful memories of our family holiday. The amazing part was that there were even pockets and slots created to keep the theme park tickets, air tickets, bus chits etc. Very self-encompassing!

That's me trying to look calm and collected - The truth was I felt like a clumsy girl trying to put together everything. It was mind-boggling and mind-inspiring all at the same thing - A very strange feeling.

My first time handling these scrapbooking supplies. So pretty and delicate, I couldn't stop smiling.

And yep, after 3 hours of hard work, this was my masterpiece. :) Extremely proud of it - I DID IT!

The instructions were relatively easy to follow, as Rachel took us through a step-by-step verbal tutorial. She also watched us so that she could advise and guide us along the way. The class size was small, so there could be personalised attention for every one of us. This definitely helped for a first-time scrapper like me. Rachel was also patient and able to propose alternatives and remedies when we made mistakes. :P

After the class, Rachel treated us to yummy macaroons & scones from the shop. What a happy ending to the class, and a sweet treat after three hours of hard work!

And this was my class of fellow scrappers, as I can now call myself. =P

When I showed Joey the album, she exclaimed, "Wah so nice!!!"

Yes babe, you ought to be so proud of me.

GIVEAWAY!

Scrappin' Love will be giving away to ONE LUCKY WINNER: A 50% one-time discount off scrapbooking class or customize order. Please follow these steps to participate in the giveaway:

1. Like Scrappin' Love Facebook page
2. Like The J Babies Facebook page
3. Leave me a comment on this blog post with this "I love scrapbooking!" or drop me an email at inthedaisies@gmail.com with "I love scrapbooking!". Please remember to let me know your facebook name as well for contacting purposes.

Giveaway ends on Friday, 21 June 2013, 10pm.

Technorati Tags: Scrappin' Love,scrapbooking,art and craft

Electrolux Washing-Thon

2013-06-15T07:00:00.000+08:00

Advertorial

I brought the kids to check the first-ever Washing-thon in Singapore a few days back, and it was an interesting experience!

The event happened at Toa Payoh and what first greeted us was this:

A humongous pile of clothes! These clothes had been donated by members of public as well as corporations, as part of their contributions to this worthy community cause. Clothes collected would be laundered, ironed and then shipped to various parts of Cambodia, Laos etc, where the clothes would bless many needy people out there. This event is done through charity partners MINDs and Blessings in a Bag.

Response to this event had been overwhelming, as I was told by the organizers. To-date, they have collected 8,000 kilograms of donated clothes, and from what I could see, most of them are of excellent quality! They are expecting the donations to cross 10,000 kg, which is just plain amazing. Looks like Singaporeans do have a lot of unwanted clothes and they are very willing to donate them so that they get a second lease of life!

Not only are donations forthcoming, the other amazing thing is the number of volunteers involved in the sorting, packing and washing of the clothes. They are on shifts to make sure that every piece of clothing is washed and properly packed to be shipped off to their respective destinations.

As fringe activities at the event, there were free popcorn & candy floss given out to kids, and stalls with handmade crafts sold for fund-raising.

It was the kids' first time seeing such a high clothes pile, and I love it that I could take the opportunity to tell them how blessed we are in Singapore, when many poorer people living in other countries may not have proper and nice clothes to wear, and we can do a small part to help them live better lives.

Experience Laos and Myanmar at Changi Airport!

2013-06-14T07:00:00.000+08:00

Media Invite

I love it that our Changi Airport is such a happening place. More than just a place of departure, it is also a good place to bring kids to, simply because there are many interesting things to see and do. The activity area near Terminal 3 Check-in row 11 is frequently updated with special-themed events or exhibitions. This time round, the kids were invited to check out their Laos & Myanmar exhibition and Joey even tried out their 10-course obstacle track!

Let's check out their exhibition area - You can learn more about the culture of Laos & Myanmar in this small exhibition. As these two countries are not common tourist spots, many people are not familiar with them. Quite informative.

As part of the setup, you will be introduced to the famous landmarks in Laos & Myanmar such as the Mandalay U-Bein Bridge and Laos Tad Fane Waterfall.

The highlight of this exhibition is of course the obstacle course. Just produce your receipt of minimum $40 spending at the Changi Airport, and you can get a chance to try out the course (Minimum 6 years old and 1 metre in height). Now, if you know Joey, you know she is really quite a scaredy cat. I was mighty proud of her for completing the obstacle course - albeit a really mini one. She was chanting, 'So scary... so scary' throughout the course with a ghastly look on her face. Nevertheless, she completed it! I think conquering one's fears is an important lesson to learn in life, and I am glad she completed it inspite of her fears!

Before she got started, she was suited up for safety.

If you happen to be at the Changi Airport, do check out this exhibition! It will be on till end of June. :)

Technorati Tags: Changi Airport,Laos & Myanmar exhibition,kids,June school holidays

Play Dates Are Awesome Much

2013-06-13T07:00:00.000+08:00

I think play dates are awesome. Not only will the kids have loads of fun, the parents get to fellowship and have some peace because the kids are too busy playing to disturb us.

It's the June school holidays and this week, both hubby and I took leave from work to spend time with our girls. Because of a four-day workshop our girls are attending with our friends' kids (more on that soon!), we spent the last few mornings at Yishun Park. The park's nice and serene with lots of greenery, and there's a rather wonderful playground. The kids had so much fun there together!

Yishun is an old estate, and this particular playground has a vintage charm to it that I love so much.

Swings - who can resist them seriously? :)

And see-saw!! - The modern kind though.

Finally, the slide makes up the vintage playground must-have.

Girls will be girls - They were doing pretend-play: Pretending to be princesses in their castle!

This playground also has a section with obstacle course features - Quite interesting!

These girls are really cute and super cooperative when I told them to try jump shots!

Perfectly executed! =D

Like I said, play dates are always awesome.

Technorati Tags: Yishun Park,playground,kids,children,school holidays

Play Outdoors At Ease - Dirty No More!

2013-06-12T07:00:00.000+08:00

Are your kids like mine? The moment I mention that we are going somewhere outdoors, they jump up and down in exaggerated exhilaration. That could possibly be the reason why we spend most of our weekends outdoors. And kids being kids, when they start playing, they don't care about hygiene or staying clean. After a mere 5 minutes of playtime, they can get everything on them dirty, from head to toe.

And so, we were at the beach a few weeks back, and the kids had so much fun building sandcastles. Joey has no qualms about getting her hands dirty from all the sandplay, but Jayne was a little apprehensive at the beginning. I had to reassure her that Mummy would wash her hands clean after that! Well, the little one is more princessy than the elder one in some ways.

But the truth is at a public place like the beach, it may be better to play safe. Kids fall sick easily and frequently, and one of the ways to keep them healthy is to keep germs as far away from them as possible. Therefore, when it comes to handwash, I would go for anti-bacterial soap instead of the those that offer only basic cleaning. My kids need more protection than just mere cleansing - I need to know that whatever germs they've come into contact with are exterminated with each wash! Instead of praying and hoping that my kids won't fall sick, I prefer to be proactive and stay one step ahead of possible infections.

The thing is, how do I REALLY know that my kids' hands are thoroughly and properly cleaned?

I'm glad you asked! :D

Ever since I've been introduced to the Hulk of handwashes, my heart has been put to ease. This amazing product from Lifebuoy not only cleans with a nice fragrance, I can also be sure that my kids' hands are thoroughly cleaned because I get a visual confirmation! The soap foam changes colour to GREEN after 10 seconds of wash, which is an indication that 99% of the germs have been killed. Totally cool.

Let my little assistant, Joey, show you how it works:

As the world’s first anti-bacterial soap brand, and with over 100 years of history in saving lives, Lifebuoy is the World’s number 1 germ protection soap. It has proven itself to be a worldwide leader in bringing better health and hygiene to billions. As a mum, I naturally would go for the best when it comes to protecting my kids. My choice is .... Lifebuoy. :)

Technorati Tags: Lifebuoy,handwash,hygiene for children

School Holiday Ideas: Adventure Cove

2013-06-11T07:00:00.000+08:00

We brought the kids to the Adventure Cove at RWS last week together with some colleagues' families, and the kids had a blast! It was their first time to the place, and they got really excited when we stepped in. It is spelled P-A-R-A-D-I-S-E to them!

We parked our stuffs at the sunbeds in front of the Wave Pool, which was the main attraction of the place. Every 15 minutes, the whole pool turns into a mega wave pool - Seriously, it's a lot of fun riding the waves while sitting on the giant floats.

Water play always makes my kids happy. Especially on a hot day like this! Please put on lots of sunblock on days like these - the sun is merciless!

I also think it's extremely therapeutic sitting on the sunbeds watching the kids play, and with a view like this right in front. You can have a holiday too without travelling out of Singapore!

Yep, there are life jackets for the children. Safety is very important. They feel a lot more secure too when they wear one. The waves can get really huge.

The other part that my kids really loved was the Big Bucket Treehouse which is a water playground with huge buckets of water splashing down at regular intervals.

Really quite shiok to stand under the 'downpour' actually. :P

And of course, the slides are must-try. But I've gone down about 10 times together with the kids, and I got stuck every.single.time. Got to keep pushing myself along! =.=

Yes very embarrassing when you get stuck. Everyone's waiting for you to get off the slide.

When the kids got tired from playing, they relaxed in the baby pool and just soaked themselves in the cool water. Then we took a nice long 'float' in the lazy river that meanders around the entire Adventure Cove.

Yea, a very fun but tiring day. The kids knocked out early that night!

Check out this link for the ticket prices.

Technorati Tags: Adventure Cove,Sentosa,school holidays,kids,children

POLW BBQ Under The Stars

2013-06-10T07:00:00.000+08:00

Media Invite

We were invited to BBQ Under The Stars at Port of the Lost Wonder (POLW, Sentosa) on Saturday evening, and we loved it!

If you've been to POLW before, you would know that it's a fun water playground for kids, and it closes at 6.30pm everyday before it turns dark. Only for the June school holidays, POLW will be open at night as well every Friday and Saturday, and your whole family can have a nice BBQ dinner under the stars. The kids can also have a splashing good time in the water or watch an open-air movie - Super cool!

We reached bright and early at 6.30pm when the BBQ starts. For the price of $35/adult and $30/child (POLW members get $5 off), you can choose a main course (steak, chicken, dory fillet etc) and a complimentary drink (Wine, beer, soft drink, juices). The rest of the food are free-flow - Salads, desserts, fruits, cakes, curry chicken, mee siam, soup & bread, etc. For the kids, they get to choose between burger patty and sausage with mash, and of course a drink as well. In my opinion, this may be rather pricey especially for a whole family of two adults and kids. But the food portions are quite generous, and pretty yummy. Play time for the kids is also included in the price, so I guess that works out pretty alright.

I really like the ambience in the place - It feels very relaxing hearing the splashing of the water and laughter of the kids, and the aroma of BBQ in the air. Plus, the staff were very friendly and meticulous. They came by often to ask if everything was alright and if we needed anything. Great service!

Check out the spread of the buffet bar:

Our orders sizzling on the grill! =D

Here comes our main courses!

The kids' sausage with mash

Hubby's steak with mushroom sauce

My boneless chicken with mushroom sauce

Very happy with the starters - The Thai sauce vermicelli was especially refreshing and appetizing.

Joey interspersed between feasting and playing in the pool. What a life!

When it got darker, the lights came on and created a different mood altogether.

The pirate ship which is usually closed by 6.30pm gets lit up by floodlights shining on it - So pretty-looking! There were POLW crew playing with the kids and watching over them in the pool, so parents can have a relaxing dinner without worrying about their kiddos.

To end off the evening, you can watch a movie under the stars - There are sunbeds for you to sit on, or you can bring along your own picnic mats. While watching the movie, you can continue your feasting by bringing your food over. I really like this idea! The movie that evening was Lion King II. :)

It got a little chilly for Jayne in the water after a while, so she retreated to watching the movie with us while Joey continued to have a ball of time in the pool with her friends. What a very lovely evening indeed. :)

BBQ Under the Stars will only happen on Fridays and Saturdays for the month of June - Go for it before it ends!

Technorati Tags: POLW,Sentosa,BBQ Under The Stars,kids,June school holidays,activities for children in Singapore,where to bring kids to in Singapore,water playground

Storybooks For Kids - Review & Giveaway!

2013-06-09T17:41:00.001+08:00

Sponsored Review

Many of you know that Joey is an avid reader. I am very thankful for that because it's been something I've always hoped for in my kids. Somehow, if they love books, they will face less struggles when it comes to studying. So, some books got delivered to my house recently for both my girls and it made them super happy. I'm pleasantly surprised that the happiness level seemed to be able to match up to having toys arrive in the house. =P

You may have heard of the best-selling series, 'The Diary of Amos Lee', but did you know that there is also another series with Amos' sister, Whoopie Lee, as the star of the stories? Whoopie - Almost Famous was the book sent to Joey - She started on it immediately and finished it in 3 days flat. Pretty much tells you how engaging the story is.

I asked Joey what she thought of the story, and she said it was very funny and interesting. A quick glance through the book and I could understand why she said that. The book is written very much like 'The Diary of Amos Lee', where Whoopie tells of events happening in her life on a daily basis. It is written in a very casual manner that makes for easy reading, and the way she accounts for the things happening in her life is really quite funny. In fact, because it is a very local-based story, I could totally identify with some of the things she talked about in the book. This book is more suitable for the lower Primary kids and would interest the serious readers. But for kids who love to see colourful illustrations while reading, this book does not have that. The inside pages have plenty of illustrations but everything is in black and white. The focus is more on the storyline anyway.

She loves the book (And now bugs me to go get her the 'The Diary of Amos Lee' series).

The folks from Ethos Books also sent over two picture books for Jayne so that she, too, would get to read some books. These books have pretty and colourful illustrations, and in particular, the boo 'Bleagh!' teaches about values through the life of a blue furry monster! The storylines' pretty interesting and would make good bedtime stories for the pre-schoolers.

Giveaway!

I have two copies of (A) 'The Diary of Whoopie Lee' and (B) one set of the picture books to be given away! To join the giveaway, please follow these simple steps:

Mandatory:

1. Leave me a comment on this post or drop me an email at inthedaisies@gmail.com, indicating whether you would want (A) or (B) in the giveaway.

Non-Mandatory, but Nice to Do:

2. Like The J Babies facebook page
3. Like & Share this post on your FB wall (tag Klessis Lee)

Deadline for giveaway: Friday, 14 June 2013, 10pm.

Technorati Tags: storybooks for children,kids,The Diary of Whoopie Lee,advertorial,blog giveaway

The Electrolux Washing-Thon

2013-06-08T01:09:00.000+08:00

Advertorial

The Washing-thon is happening in Singapore for the first time!

When I first heard of the event, I thought, how meaningful it is! From 13 -15 June, washing machines and tumble dryers will be on repeat cycles at Toa Payoh as Electrolux aims to launder a record-breaking number of donated clothes. Working with charity partners MINDs and Blessings in a Bag, the clothing laundered at the Washing-thon event will be given away for deserving causes in Singapore, Cambodia and Laos.

In fact, collection drives have already started, with public donation points at Toa Payoh CC and The Grandstand. Local schools and corporates are also helping to collect clothing ahead of the Washing-thon, and direct donations are encouraged throughout the event – with pre-loved t-shirts, trousers and jeans being the most sought after items.

I will be bringing my kids to check out the event next week and bringing some of our pre-loved clothes there for donation as well. If you are free, you can check out the event as there will be a variety of activities and entertainment happening. From balloon sculptures to musical entertainment and performance from local artistes, this can be a really fun event for the whole family to attend together. Since it's the school holidays, why not bring your family there and do your part for a worthy cause at the same time! While you are there, you can also take some nice photos of your Washing-thon donations and share it on Instagram by tagging #washingthon. The 10 pictures with the most ‘likes’ by 15 June will receive an Electrolux steam iron.

For more information, visit www.electrolux.com.sg/washing-thon or www.facebook.com/thelittlewhitebook.

Technorati Tags: Electrolux Washing-thon

Tea Chapter

2013-06-07T07:00:00.000+08:00

If you are looking for a quiet and cosy place in town to have a nice cup of tea with your friends, Tea Chapter might just be the right place to go to.

Not only can you choose from a wide variety of tea, from the common ones such as jasmine, peppermint, Tie Guanyin etc, you can also opt for premium tea just to have a taste of superior tea fragrance. To go with your tea, you can also order small dishes such as tea eggs, fruit jellies, cookies, cakes etc.

Tea Chapter has 3 storeys - The ground floor is the retail shop where tea leaves and tea sets are sold. The second and third floors have different seating configurations to suit the different needs. There are the usual round tables & chairs (with some privacy because each table is separated from another by straw blinds. Or you can also opt for the floor seats (similar to Japanese & Korean seating styles) like the one I chose. Privacy as well because every area is separated.

Or you can opt for open space floor seats on Level 3. This is also the place for private group booking.

At Tea Chapter, don't expect tea to be served to you all brewed. In fact, the fun part about being at Tea Chapter is that you can make your own tea, using the traditional Chinese method.

So many different types of tea to choose from!

For the first-timer, you can request for the staff to do a simple demonstration of tea brewing. In fact, as she was demonstrating, she explained every single step carefully, and told us what each step was meant for. It was interesting and quite fun!

After the demonstration, we can brew our own tea. There is a compulsory minimum spending of $8/pax on tea. Snacks and food are separate. You can easily spend a few hours in that place because the tea leaves are enough to last that long.

We ordered Lychee Jelly, which was refreshing and cold.

And the tea egg was awesome - the taste of tea was infused into every part of the egg!

We brought the tea leaves home with us because we didn't finish using them.

The Tea Chapter is a really nice place to relax and rejuvenate amidst our hectic and busy schedules. But expect to spend quite a bit there as the food can be rather pricey for the small portions. The compulsory minimum spending per pax also adds on to the cost. Nevertheless, quite a nice place to check out. :)

Tea Chapter
9 & 11 Neil Road, Singapore 088808

Linking up:

Technorati Tags: Tea Chapter,cafe,Chinatown

School Holiday Ideas: Gardens By The Bay

2013-06-06T07:00:00.000+08:00

Media Invite

Gardens by the Bay kicks off the June holidays with a brand-new thematic floral display in the cooled conservatories! We all know that the displays in the Flower Dome change seasonally, but this is the first time that the changing display will take place in the Cloud Forest as well. The new thematic floral display is entitled, "Flight of Fancy", and you can expect to see pretty miniature hot air balloons, aeroplanes and kites as part of the decoration. You can learn interesting facts through the new display, such as how seeds are dispersed by wind, what plants are pollinated by bats, etc. I found it pretty educational!

IN THE FLOWER DOME...

The hot air balloons were so pretty and made the entire Flower Dome so dreamy! I think admiring the beautiful displays and all the pretty flowers in a cool environment is really quite awesome - We enjoyed our walk in the Flower Dome very much!

There was a section dedicated to different kinds of cactuses - We were amazed at how many different types of cactuses there are! Some made us laugh;

Some made us feel very prickly;

And some gave us goosebumps.

It was really interesting for me. And I thought very educational for my kids too. :)

Love the flowers we saw in Flower Dome - They totally lifted up our spirits! :) Joey brought her camera along, and she snapped everything too, because everything looked so pretty.

The weather outside was glorious with the sun shining brightly, but inside the conservatory, it was nice and cool. Haha.. I'm too pampered.

Love the sites for photo ops. :)

IN THE CLOUD FOREST...

The Cloud Forest has always been our favourite conservatory at Gardens By the Bay. Absolutely love the tall waterfall! And now, next to the waterfall is a cute little hot air balloon as part of the new thematic display. :)

Apart from the hot air balloons, you will also notice kites as well as special species of white orchids hanging on the wall of the waterfall. They were gorgeous!

The last time we visited the Cloud Forest, it was night time so the visibility on the sky trail was not very good because of the mist. But this time round, it was daytime and we had a good look around from way up high. Love the scenery. :)

I really like this new thematic display at Gardens By the Bay - the flowers, the decorations and the whole educational journey made it a really enjoyable family outing for us. Check it out too this June school holidays! :)

In conjunction with the June holidays, kids will also enjoy 50% discount on Local Resident Child Tickets to the cooled conservatories from 1 to 28 June. Now daddies and mummies can take the opportunity for some parent-child bonding and fun learning during the school break! A series of activities has also been planned in conjunction with Gardens by the Bay’s upcoming 1st anniversary – pack your picnic mats and spend quality time with your family and friends at the “Gardens Party One” on 29 June; watch the Supertrees transform before
your eyes in “Mystical Supertrees” from 30 June to 7 July; enjoy free activities for kids such as the “GB Kids’ Blast” and “Blow Wind Blow”; and more!

Technorati Tags: Gardens by The Bay,Singapore,school holidays,places to visit in Singapore,places of interest,tourist attraction

School Holiday Ideas: Fidgets World!

2013-06-05T07:00:00.000+08:00

Media Invite

You know why parents love bringing their kids to indoor playgrounds? It's simple: Kids have tons of fun and parents get to relax while the kids get all the exercise they need for the week. That is, of course, if your kids are old enough to play without supervision or having a parent follow them around. Then again, if you need to chase after your kids, it's also a good form of exercise. :P

So, we were back at Fidgets World at The Grandstand on Saturday. The last time we were there for a baking class, the kids enjoyed themselves tremendously. Because the class ended very near to the closing hours, the kids didn't have much time to roam and play in the playground. So we went back again and the kids had ample time to explore the whole playground.

I love the cloud ceiling at the entrance. Makes the whole place so dreamy!

The shoe cabinets are huge and lit up prettily, with ample seats for the customers to take off and put on their shoes and socks. Love it!

My girls love indoor playgrounds, and they couldn't wait to run into the play area. See Jayne's big, wide grin! She was sitting at the top of a really scary and steep slope in my opinion. My girls are a lot braver than me, I tell ya.

Kid you not - the slope was so steep, I got cold feet looking down from the top. Joey loved it and kept going and going and going. She did manage to psycho her sister to try it once, and she got scolded really bad by her sister after that because it was too scary for her. :P

Like most indoor playgrounds, there's lots of space for the kids to climb, run, jump and crawl everywhere. They are totally my kids' cup of tea because they have endless energy. I am extremely thankful that I no longer need to run after them. Seriously getting old. I am happy just to relax on the sofas located around the playground structure and play my candy crush. :P

By the way, do you know that playground time is important for children to build up their motor skills?

Apart from the main playground structure, there is also another area built for the younger kids. There are toy vehicles there, with smaller and shorter structures. Younger kids can play in this area safely without fear of being stomped on by the older kids.

If you wish to do a birthday party at Fidgets World, there are several party rooms available.

You may also opt to do a baking party at the baking room where my kids had their class at previously.

A large cafe is situated at the centre of Fidgets World and there is a good variety of food choices available there.

There is also a mini stage for the kids to practise catwalking. :P

All purchases are made via the Fidgets Travel Pass, and payment is settled at the exit before you leave. So convenient the kids can even make purchases themselves.

Thank you Fidgets World - The kids had so much fun! :)

Check out the prices & details before you head down this June holidays! :D

Technorati Tags: Fidgets World,indoor playground,kids,school holidays

School Holiday Ideas: Play At Sentosa!

2013-06-04T07:00:00.000+08:00

Media Invite

School holidays is probably the happiest time of the year for the students, but it can be quite a headache for parents as well, because we have to find activities to occupy them throughout the one-month break. Sentosa is always the first place that comes to my mind, because there are many fun things we can do there. Over the weekend, my kids were invited to Sentosa to try out their new activities specially prepared for the June school holidays. We had a really fun and fruitful Saturday!

First up, Storytelling comes alive! is done as a tie-up with Playmobil this time round. Fans of Playmobil will be thrilled to see so many life-sized Playmobil characters everywhere. I've caught several seasons of Storytelling comes alive! before, but I thought this season is the best I've seen so far. It was interactive with audience participation, and the various characters were interesting and engaging as well. The storytelling takes place at the Images of Singapore Forecourt every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of June, 11.30am, 3pm & 5pm.

Inline with the Playmobil theme, there are several Playmobil treats happening in the same area as well. The Playmobil Western House, for example, was specially imported from Germany. It's a life-size playhouse!

You can also check this very limited-edition Egyptian Diorama set, which was released in 2009 and has since been discontinued. This highly sought after complete set is worth over $2,000 and will be up for bidding. All proceeds shall be donated to charity. I was pretty amazed by the intricate details of the piece.

Kids who love art & craft can also have a go at making aprons, storybooks or button badges with materials provided. $10/kid, Islanders get 50% off.

What made my kids really excited though, was the pizza-making session at the Playmobil cafe. For just $10/kid, the kids can make their own pizzas and even get a limited edition playmobil figurine! Fun and stomach-filling at the same time. :)

The kids had to wash their hands, get dressed with aprons & chef's hats. Hee.. really quite fun!

Look how thrilled they were with their set of pizza ingredients. :)

Happy with their creations! :)

And happier still when they got to eat their own work of labour!

Be sure to check the series of activities happening on Sentosa this June holiday! My kids had such a blast! After all the fun, we even lazed around and spent some time on the lovely beach, building sandcastles. Holidays ought to be so! =D

Technorati Tags: June school holidays,Sentosa,Playmobil,pizza-making,storytelling

Nanyang Old Coffee 南洋老咖啡

2013-06-03T07:00:00.000+08:00

On a cafe-hopping Monday, hubby and I were walking around in Tanjong Pagar after lunch and we walked past this ordinary-looking Nanyang Old Coffee shop. I couldn't resist walking in because I saw many interesting vintage items inside the shop. You know, I have such a soft spot for such things!

The shop is really ordinary - with its usual tables and chairs.

Interestingly, the shop has one and a half levels, so a short flight of stairs will bring you to this seating area with sofas and also an area filled with vintage posters, equipment, decorations and all kinds of interesting stuffs.

Everything displayed was tagged with a price tag, so if you find anything you like, you can just buy them home!

It was pure eye candy for me as I checked out everything. I could recognise so many of those things from my childhood, and it made me feel so nostalgic! Check out the things I photographed, and see how many of these things could you recognise too? :)

And of course, the coffee was good. I was glad I didn't have to pay a high price for a cup of coffee (this was just $1.50 thereabout, but a cup of gourmet coffee at any cafe could easily cost more than $5), and yet have a relaxing and nostalgic Monday afternoon. Very neat indeed.

Nanyang Old Coffee
Genting Centre
3 Lim Teck Kim Road

Technorati Tags: Nanyang Old Coffee,cafe-hopping,cafes

The Good Morning Song

2013-05-31T07:00:00.000+08:00

Jayne is always singing or humming a song at home, and I think she has a nice and bright voice. :) The only thing is she cannot remember every song to perfection. Sometimes she remembers the chorus, sometimes she remembers the verse. It doesn't really matter because she would just come out with her own version and make everything sound like a complete song anyway.

This particular 'Good Morning' has obviously more lyrics than what she sang, but since she cannot remember all of them, she just keeps repeating them until the whole melody is completed. That's really fine too, you know.

The last line became 'Nice to see your SMELLY face.' =P

Technorati Tags: video,kids,singing

Motherhood Is Serious Business

2013-05-30T07:00:00.000+08:00

I was just having a conversation with a mummy friend who has two girls as well, and we both feel like we are already mummies of teenagers. Our elder daughters are both in Primary One this year, and even though they are only seven years old, they seem mature beyond their age.

To me, motherhood only gets harder and harder as the years go by. It used to be when my kids were still babies, it felt challenging and draining, having to deal with endless diaper-changes, milk-feeding and burping. The kids fell sick frequently, and I was always worried if they were drinking enough, sleeping enough and poo-ing enough. As the kids moved past that stage, I thought life would get easier, but that didn't happen. In fact, the sense of responsibility only became heavier because now that they understood more about life, I have to instil the right values into them, and hopefully mould their attitude and character in the right direction. That is the hardest part about motherhood, in my opinion.

When the kids were little, they would listen to me and it was easy to motivate them to obey my instructions. But as they grew older, the defiance streaks started to show and I now have to explain all my decisions in order to get them to follow what I want them to do. Motherhood now requires a higher level of wisdom, skills and technique. It's a whole new ball game altogether.

Joey started Primary One, and as all girls do, she has started to experience her fair share of 'I-friend-you-I-don't-friend-you'. She hangs around with a group of girlfriends every recess time, and within this group is the class monitor, who is also her BFF (For the misinformed, that means 'Best Friends Forever'). On a regular basis, and by that, I mean every few hours, the girls turn from BFF at school assembly to mortal enemies at recess time and back to BFF again by the time school ends for the day. When she gets home, she would tell me all the good and bad things her friends had done that day. Most of the time, it's complaining about this friend or that friend, or how upset she was because of a certain classmate. Frankly, it got me a little worried at the beginning and I even asked the teacher about it. I was wondering if she was struggling with social life in school! Eventually though, I realised that it's all part and parcel of a girly school life. I went through that myself as a kid, didn't I? Some counselling sessions had to be conducted on some nights, just so that she could understand why certain friends would behave or talk to her in a certain way, and helping her to get over some negative feelings. Now, milk-feeding and diaper-changing feel like child's play, literally.

To reinforce on the more stubborn stuffs like attitude and speech issues, I now have to engage in serious talks with Joey. Whenever an inappropriate behaviour is shown, I would point it out to Joey. At some points, I even became a nagging machine because she never listened after I said it for the first time. When I couldn't take it anymore, I would sit her down and try to tell her in all seriousness, hoping that the message gets across to her. This is of course a lot more effective than plain nagging, but definitely requires a lot more energy and careful choice of words. You see, motherhood is no longer so straightforward.

But this has also reminded me that motherhood is a high calling - One that comes with great responsibility and purpose. While I want to be a mother who can feed my kids and help them grow up healthier, I have a greater responsibility to nurture and groom them into outstanding individuals who can contribute to the society and become people who make a difference in the lives of others. Of course, underlying all those good values I hope to inculcate in them, I pray with all of my heart that they will grow in their love for God, for the church and for their family and friends.

I know while I think it's probably the hardest stage of motherhood now, I would look back a few years down the road and think that this is child's play. As the kids grow older and older, more and more challenges would come my way. I want to grow wiser, smarter and definitely more patient as a mum to tackle whatever comes my way, while concurrently enjoy myself in this role.

Told ya motherhood is serious business! No doubt about it.

Technorati Tags: motherhood,thoughts

Sights & Food At Woodlands Waterfront Park

2013-05-29T07:00:00.000+08:00

The closest place from home we can get to Mother Nature to breathe in some fresh air and get some sunlight is the Woodlands Waterfront Park. The place is huge and spacious with a huge playground, and a jetty that extends all the way out to the sea. It's such a lovely place and my mood gets lifted up every time I go there.

Recently, I got to know that a new restaurant opened up at Woodlands Waterfront Park, and thought of checking out the place. Turned out, the restaurant is located right smack on the jetty itself! What totally blew us away that evening when we visited was the beautiful and glorious sunset sky. It was almost impossible to imagine that we could see such skies in Singapore! The sea was sparkling like diamonds too!

The restaurant is located at this junction of the jetty. There were so many people fishing on the jetty, even though the 'No Fishing' signs were everywhere! =P

We had to wait a while for our table, but I love the atmosphere in the air while waiting on the jetty.

The Rasa Istimewa Waterfront Restaurant is halal-certified, so many of the customers were Malays that day. Compared to Chinese, I feel that the Malays are more closely-knitted as families, and they always hang out in big family groups at such parks. Really heart-warming. :)

The restaurant usually keeps their windows open, so it has an alfresco feel. I personally liked it that way, because we can dine while feeling the sea breeze and people-watch. Really quite nice. :D That evening, one family complained that it was a little stuffy, so the boss ordered for all the air-con units to be switched on and closed all the windows, and the alfresco restaurant converted to a comfortable air-conditioned restaurant.

Sunday dinners with my family always make me feel happy & blissful. :)

Ordered some simple dishes, and I thought the dishes were pretty tasty!

Stir-fried green vegetables

Yam Basket

Salted Vegetables Soup

The skies got a lot more dramatic after our dinner. It was really beautiful, and I stood in awe of God's creation.

My most favourite photo of the evening. I feel so calm looking at this scenery. :)

Then one week later, we went back to the restaurant again to celebrate my mum's birthday! I love it that the restaurant serves a good selection of BBQ food, as my mum loves BBQ Stingray. I'd try their satays the next time round.

Tried different dishes that day. Hotplate toufu!

Hotplate beef with ginger & onions

French beans with spicy haybeehiam

BBQ stingy (The chili is good!)

Ice kacang

This may be a good supper place!

Rasa Istimewa Waterfront Restaurant
6A Admiralty Rd West, Woodlands Waterfront Park, Woodlands, Singapore 757445

Opening Hours:

Mon - Thu: 2:00 pm - 12:00 am
Fri - Sat: 3:00 pm - 1:00 am
Sun: 2:00 pm - 12:00 am

Technorati Tags: Food,Woodlands Waterfront Park,Rasa Istimewa Waterfront restaurant,kid-friendly

Swensen's Space Adventure Kid's Meal

2013-05-28T07:00:00.000+08:00

Sponsored Review

The kind folks at Swensen's sent over some vouchers for us to go check out their new 'Space Adventure Kid's Meal', and we enjoyed a nice meal with our good friends some weekends back. Love the ION branch - The dessert & ice-cream buffet bar as the centrepiece looks good!

The 'Space Adventure Kid's Meal' costs $9.50 each, and the kids can choose among a list of seven entrees, healthy side snacks and a wholesome fruit juice. Top up $1.50, and the kids can upgrade to Qoo Fuji Apple or White Grape. And for an additional nominal amount of $2.90, you can even add a Treasure Chest sundae or a Coit Tower Junior to the meal - Everything's served in paper Spaceship!

The kids are always excited to visit Swensen's especially because of the ice-cream treats at the end of the meal. :)

She's grinning because there are so many options to choose from! :)

Jayne chose the macaroni with tomato sauce & fried chicken nuggets, served with corn cup.

The portion's just right for my kid, but I think it might be too little for older kids in Primary school. I tasted the chicken and thought it tasted not bad.

Joey ordered cheese burger with french fries. My guess was that she made that choice mainly because it came with french fries. =.=

Looks not bad - Portion's quite okay because it's a full burger with meat patty & cheese.

The adults had a feast too! I've always loved the side dishes offered at Swensen's especially fried mushrooms and rodeo wings! Yum yums. :)

My friends ordered the black pepper pasta, and it looked not bad too!

Hubby and I had Ribeye steak - I enjoyed it!!! Done just the way I like it. :)

After a sumptuous meal, I had to order my all-time favourite Sticky Chewy Chocolate sundae! :) Love it as usual.

The kids enjoyed their sundaes as well - A sweet finish to our happy Sunday lunch. :)

Technorati Tags: Swensen's,Space Adventure Kid's Meal,friends,lunch,advertorial

Jayne's 4th Birthday Party In School

2013-05-27T07:00:00.000+08:00

I wish I could say that Jayne had a very happening birthday party in school, but the truth was she fell sick. :(

But since everything's been planned, we still went ahead with a simple birthday party in her school. She missed school that day, and we only turned up in school at the party time, which was after the kids' nap time. She couldn't really enjoy herself because she was obviously not feeling her best. But she still had fun, I believe. She enjoys the company of her friends so much, I'm sure she's happy to spend her birthday with them.

The moment we stepped into the school, her best friend in class - Huixin, came running towards her and hugged her tightly while saying 'Jaynnnnnnnneeeee'. It was soooooo sweet. :)

I was a little surprised at how well-behaved Jayne's class was, quite frankly. Aren't all four-year-olds rowdy and noisy and playful? When we were there, they didn't create a ruckus or make noise. They quietly watched us set up the cake and goody bags while whispering to each other. They obediently listened to their Teacher's instructions though everyone crowded around the cake and some were trying really hard to resist touching it. =P Such obedient kids - I was impressed!

Jayne's goody bags had princess photo cut-outs on front of the brown sandwich bags and secured with strings & flower felt buttons I bought from Daiso.

Jayne tells me many things about her friends in school everyday, so when I met them, I felt like I know them! I could even call them by names, which made them very bewildered indeed. =P

Even when they sang the happy birthday song, they were so gentle & angelic. They must be the most well behaved bunch of four-year-olds I've ever seen!

Jayne's cake was an ice-cream cake sponsored by Swensen's as well (Magadascar 3 series just like Joey's). The kids were unusually quiet when eating their cakes - The teacher said it was their first time having ice-cream cake in school, and they were probably too busy savouring ice-cream! Hehe.

The kids probably needed time to warm up to me. Halfway through eating the cake, one boy turned to me and said, 'The cake is very cold.' I told him it's an ice-cream cake, that's why! He didn't look like he understood me. Probably thinking, 'Hello Auntie, this is cake, not ice-cream.' When I told one of the kids to quickly eat up his cake, otherwise it would melt, he said to me, 'If it melts, it'll become liquid cake!' - Very smart kids leh!

The cake was very yummy and several of the kids asked for 2nd helping. I guess kids can never have enough of ice-cream!

We haven't had the chance to celebrate her birthday with the family yet because she's still unwell. Praying that she'll recover soon and we can go have a celebration! Happy birthday again, babe! :)

Technorati Tags: birthday party in school,kids,children,swensen's birthday cake

Philips PerfectCare PSG Iron & Ironing Board

2013-05-24T07:00:00.000+08:00

Sponsored Review

When I first got to know that I will be reviewing the Philips PerfectCare Pressurized Steam Generator Iron (which comes with an ironing board as well), I frankly wasn't expecting much. I mean, how interesting can an iron be? I was expecting just another usual product review experience.

I cannot be more wrong.

Apparently, technology has advanced without my knowledge, and now, irons are able to perform much better, much faster and more economically. I instantly knew that this was no ordinary iron when I saw it for the first time:

I'm sure you now know what I mean.

The first thing you would notice about the Philips PerfectCare PSG iron is probably the water tank base. The iron comes with its own detachable 1.5-litre water tank that can support two hours of ironing without refilling. My mother-in-law's eyes totally lit up when she saw the iron with its own water tank. She had been telling me that only steam irons can iron those clothes with lots of creases due to machine wash. When she tried it on her very 'stubborn' clothes, the creases were flattened with almost no effort at all! I am glad to report that my mother-in-law is very pleased with the performance of the PerfectCare PSG iron. :P

Now if you are wondering if a high performer like this would utilize a lot of electricity, I am happy to tell you that the Philips PerfectCare iron is certified with the Philips Green Logo, which means it can reduce costs, energy consumption and even CO2 emissions! This means that you can iron the toughest fabrics using the least amount of time (No other pressurized steam generator iron is faster from start to finish). Not only will you be using lesser electricity (thus lower utility bill!), you are also doing a part for the environment. Win-win!

The Easy De-Calc knob is a hassle free & effective scale removal to extend the life of the steam generator. When there is a need to empty it, a button will light up. Pretty idiot-proof, and no need to keep track of when the emptying must be done.

With the OptimalTEMP Technology from the PerfectCare PSG iron, you can also use one setting for all types of clothes. That effectively means that you can now iron all ironable garments (silk, cashmere, wool, polyester etc) one after another, without having to wait or to adjust the temperature dial. This is so convenient and safe - No more burning a hole in your favourite top!

For an iron with such an impressive set up, I am sure you would expect that the ironing board is another thing to rave about. I have not seen such a broad ironing board before, quite frankly. And it's wonderful because I find the typical ironing boards a tad too small. Because of the large size, the Philips XL board shape is also ideal for ironing big items such as bed linen and tablecloths. It measures 45cm by 120cm!

With the unique ShoulderWing system, shirt ironing is easier than ever. This innovative system helps you iron shirts with little rearranging, saving you time and effort. The retractable ShoulderWing System can be opened and closed, depending on the type of garment to be ironed.

See how an entire garment can fit onto the board? I no longer have to iron my hubby's clothes one sleeve by one sleeve!

Even if I do that, there's ample space to spread out the fabric so that I can iron easily and conveniently.

There's still space for Baby Jayne to lean her chin on the board, as you can see! It must be quite comfortable, because the board cover is made of 100% cotton and is supported by foam and felt layers. This combination provides a comfortable and smooth ironing surface (and of course, comfortable leaning :P) P/S: When ironing is in progress, always keep the kids away!

Some other features of the ironing board, which made me feel that Philips had put much thought into the needs of the users:

Hanging rail for clothes - No need to make trips back & forth the cupboard during ironing! Just hang freshly-ironed clothes by the rack!

Child & Transport Lock - Child and transport lock prevents the board from accidentally collapsing while ironing and also keeps the board closed during storage. Very useful especially for families with active kids like mine!

XL Iron Tray - The stable and extra-large iron tray is perfect for steam generators. It is also heat resistant and can be safely used with steam irons. Again, safety is a priority.

So far, we are loving our PerfectCare PSG iron & Easy8 ironing board. It's made our ironing experience a lot more pleasant mainly because it gets the job done faster and easier! Anything that makes household chores easier deserves a big round of applause.

The Philips PerfectCare PSG iron retails at S$699 (with a complimentary Easy8 ironing board worth $299). Available at leading electronics and departmental stores today!

P/S: I received a complimentary Philips PerfectCare iron & ironing board for purpose of the review. All opinions and comments are 100% my own.

Technorati Tags: Philips,PerfectCare iron & ironing board,product review,advertorial

Pasar Bella

2013-05-23T07:00:00.000+08:00

I happened to be at The Grandstand (Formerly known as Turf City) for a blogging assignment last weekend, so I took the opportunity to have a quick walk through the Pasar Bella. From some of the blogs I read, it sounded like a place I would like, and I really did!

It might be the closest to Perth's Fremantle Weekend Market I could find here in Singapore. Brought back so much holiday memories just walking through the market. :) Pasar Bella calls itself the first wholesome market in Singapore, and you can really find all kinds of stuffs selling at the market, from fresh produce to home furnishings and delicacies such as cakes, pastries, tarts, etc. You can also chill and relax at one of the cafes there. Basically, the whole market is filled with the aroma of coffee - And that's probably why I liked it!

This fish stall in particular, reminded me of Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, haha!

Love the energy in the place - Everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Paella on large flat pans looked very appetizing indeed.

A lovely & colourful shop with bunting and selling the cutest things!

I suddenly miss Australia all over again!

Love everything in this popup store.

I'd love to browse the items in this shop, but too bad it was closed for stock-checking. Everything looked wonderful and pretty, they should all be in my kitchen!

Also passed by a cute kids' salon.

And there was a stall that sold balloons in every colour, design and pattern.

Pasar Bella is such a colourful market, I'd love to visit it again soon! And this time, I'll stop for a cup of coffee and just soak myself in the whole bustling and vibrant atmosphere. :)

Technorati Tags: Pasar Bella,market,The Grandstand

Baking Class At Fidgets

2013-05-22T07:00:00.000+08:00

Sponsored Review

I'm sure you would have heard of Fidgets, one of the longest-standing indoor playgrounds in Singapore. But did you know that they recently went through a renovation and it's now all sparkling new & fun?

I remembered stepping into Fidgets a few years back and didn't like it very much. It was dim and very worn down because it's been around for a while. So when I heard that it's been renovated, I couldn't wait to visit it again. Located at Turf Club Road, Fidgets World is Singapore's largest indoor soft play structure for children of all ages up to 10. Not only that, they also have art & craft classes, baking classes and other interesting activities for the kids such as makeovers! And since my girls are both aspiring bakers, we decided to try out their baking class on Saturday.

The baking class is held at the Baker's Cottage, which was a cheery-looking yellow room. Even though it was a Saturday, the class size was small - Love the ratio of 3 students to 1 teacher!

It was Jayne's first baking class, so she was very excited!!

The parents were not allowed to stay inside, so most of my photographs were taken from outside through the glass walls. It's such a great idea to let the kids go through the 1.5 hr baking class, while moms & dads can have their coffee & snacks at the cafe just outside the Baker's Cottage!

The kids measured out the flour, sugar etc, and then kneaded everything into a dough.

They were having so much fun! :)

Jayne was very hard at work, trying to mix the dough well. :)

While waiting for the cookies to bake in the oven, the kids decorated their cookie box to bring the cookies home.

Baking and art & craft made it a very fulfilling Saturday afternoon for the girls indeed.

And these goodies came out from the oven - They tasted sooo good! Maybe because they were made with much love. :D

If you found the baking class fun, you can also hold a birthday party there, and get all your guests to do a baking class together! That sounds quite fun. :)

I thought Fidgets World is very reasonably priced, compared to many other indoor playgrounds in Singapore! Many go by hourly rates during the weekends, it can be exorbitant!

The indoor playground structure looked really fun and exciting, and we will be back another day just to let the kids sweat it out in the indoor playground!

Check out Fidgets World's Website & Facebook page for updates. :)

P/S: The J Babies attended complimentary baking classes for purpose of review. All opinions and photographs are mine.

Technorati Tags: Fidgets World,Fidgets,indoor playground,baking class for kids,children

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