Organics, Home, Babies and Kids, Cooking

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

2010-04-03T03:01:00.000-07:00

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry first published The Little Prince in 1943, only a year before his Lockheed P-38 vanished over the Mediterranean during a reconnaissance mission. More than a half century later, this fable of love and loneliness has lost none of its power. The narrator is a downed pilot in the Sahara Desert, frantically trying to repair his wrecked plane. His efforts are interrupted one day by the apparition of a little, well, prince, who asks him to draw a sheep. "In the face of an overpowering mystery, you don't dare disobey," the narrator recalls. "Absurd as it seemed, a thousand miles from all inhabited regions and in danger of death, I took a scrap of paper and a pen out of my pocket." And so begins their dialogue, which stretches the narrator's imagination in all sorts of surprising, childlike directions.

The Little Prince describes his journey from planet to planet, each tiny world populated by a single adult. It's a wonderfully inventive sequence, which evokes not only the great fairy tales but also such monuments of postmodern whimsy as Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities. And despite his tone of gentle bemusement, Saint-Exupéry pulls off some fine satiric touches, too. There's the king, for example, who commands the Little Prince to function as a one-man (or one-boy) judiciary:

I have good reason to believe that there is an old rat living somewhere on my planet. I hear him at night. You could judge that old rat. From time to time you will condemn him to death. That way his life will depend on your justice. But you'll pardon him each time for economy's sake. There's only one rat.

The author pokes similar fun at a businessman, a geographer, and a lamplighter, all of whom signify some futile aspect of adult existence. Yet his tale is ultimately a tender one--a heartfelt exposition of sadness and solitude, which never turns into Peter Pan-style treacle. Such delicacy of tone can present real headaches for a translator, and in her 1943 translation, Katherine Woods sometimes wandered off the mark, giving the text a slightly wooden or didactic accent. Happily, Richard Howard (who did a fine nip-and-tuck job on Stendhal's The Charterhouse of Parma in 1999) has streamlined and simplified to wonderful effect. The result is a new and improved version of an indestructible classic, which also restores the original artwork to full color. "Trying to be witty," we're told at one point, "leads to lying, more or less. But Saint-Exupéry's drawings offer a handy rebuttal: they're fresh, funny, and like the book itself, rigorously truthful. --James Marcus

This book was first given to me by someone (in my deepest memory).

This is a truly beautiful book but I would say this book is more suitable for adults than for children.

I strongly suggest all adults should read it. It's a very touching book (I had it in 3 different languages)

All of us (adults) are busy with our daily lives and pursuits that we often forgot the simple basis of life.

"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

Dr Seuss: Hop On Pop

2010-02-27T07:20:00.000-08:00

Housem Mouse! Hop, Pop! Cup, Pup! Learning about words that rhyme has never been more fun - simply change the first letter and the whole word changes! By combiing the funniest stories, craziest creatures and zaniest pictures with his unique blend of rhyme, rhythm and repetition, Dr Seuss helps children of all ages and abilities learn to read.

PUP

Pup is up

CUP

PUP

Pup in cup

This is one of my kids'favorite.It's Easy to read, understand and remember. It's ideal for preschoolers.

Dr Seuss: Ten Apples Up On Top

2010-02-27T07:12:00.000-08:00

Follow the crazy antics of a dog, lion and a tiger as they show off how many apples they can balance on their heads - and learn to count at the same time!

By comining the funniest stories, craziest creatures and zaniest pictures with his unique blend of rhyme, rhythm and repetition, Dr Seuss helps children of all ages and abilities learn to read.

My girl enjoys this book. It's very easy to read, remember, understand and to repeat. This is a great book for preschoolers.

Kids Kampong at Pasir Ris farm 1

2009-11-26T23:24:00.000-08:00

We chanced upon this place when we were there to collect things.
The kids can catch fishes with net, fishing, feed rabbits, chickens, goose etc.

Dr Seuss Horton Hears A WHO?

2009-11-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

Horton notices a speck of dust, passing in the air. With his large ears, he can hear something coming from that dust. Quickly, he imagines that there is some sort of a creature of very small size on the dust.

No one else believes him, and he is taunted and tortured by the other animals . . . who cannot hear the small noise. They think Horton has gone mad! After tribulations that would daunt any decent, dedicated elephant, he must find a way to convince the other animals before they overwhelm him and destroy the dust.
He tells the tiny Whos to make as much noise as possible. But still the other animals cannot hear them. Finally, the mayor of the Whos finds a shirker who is playing with his yo-yo rather than making noise. As soon as the small Who makes his sound, all the animals can hear. Then the Whos are safe.

There is a page in the book whereby Horton is roped, mauled and caged that was disturbing to me. I had to reword the page carefully when I read it to my tot. She asked me WHY because there was the illustration showing Horton being tied up.

The message of the story, "a person is a person, no matter how small." and that the strong must protect the weak, but the weak must also speak up themselves if they want the strong to help them.

How to make a simple lemon aloe vera juice

2009-11-15T23:50:00.001-08:00

Scrap out the aloe vera flesh
Add a few tbsp of lemon juice
Add a few tsp of sugar to your taste
Add hot water and stir.
Its a great drink enriched with vitamins. My tot loves to drink it.

How to make cookie

2009-11-12T09:42:00.001-08:00

Ingredients
1. 300g plain flour
2. 150g caster sugar
3. 250g butter
4. 2 large egg yolk/ 3 small egg yolks
5. 2 tsp vanilla essence
6. 1/2 tsp salt
7. 1 tbsp cocoa powder

Beat butter and sugar together in a bowl
Add egg yolks and vanilla essence and beat till smooth
Add flour, salt and mix everything to make a smooth dough
Make dough into a ball, wrap with cling film and leave in fridge for 30 mins.
Heat oven to 180. Divide dough in half.
Make half brown by rubbing in cocoa powder.
Roll dough on flloured surface.
Cut out cookie shapes with cookie cutter.
Cook cookies for 12 to 15 mins until golden.
Leave on wire rack to cool

How to Make Washable Finger Paint

2009-11-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

Ingredient

2 Tablespoons Sugar
1/3 Cup of cornstarch
2 Cups water
1/4 Cup dishwashing soap
food coloring

Directions

Put the sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan and then slowly mix in cold water.
Then cook the mixture over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly until you have a smooth gel.
Leave to cool and add dishwashing soap.
Divide into as many containers as you would like colors and then mix in food coloring drops until you have you desired color.

How to Make Finger Paint

2009-11-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

2 cups white flour
2 cups cold water
Food coloring

Directions

Put water into a large bowl. Slowly add the flour, while stirring.
Once it's all mixed together, divide into smaller bowls and add food coloring.

How to Make Play Dough

2009-11-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

Materials

1 cup of salt
1 cup of flour
1 cup of water
Food coloring (optional)
Cookie cutters
Rolling pin or narrow bottle

Directions

Put salt and flour in a deep non fragile bowl.
Drape kid/baby in smock and allow him or her to mix the dry ingredients thoroughly with hands or a wooden spoon.
Slowly add water to which some drops of food coloring have been added.
Continue to mix, then knead dough until it is smooth and elastic without being sticky.
Dump the dough onto a flat floured surface and roll it out with the rolling pin or bottle.
Use cookie cutters to make shapes or provide child with other cutting and poking utensils such as plastic knives, bottle tops and lids, chopsticks, and assorted plastic shapes

Read more: http://parenting.ivillage.com/tp/tpactivities/0,,9qj5,00.html#ixzz0WfInVzsF

Confinement Food Caterers

2009-11-11T08:53:00.000-08:00

Chilli Padi: http://www.chillipadi.com.sg/Confinement/
Natal Essential: http://www.natalessentials.com/
NewBaby: http://www.newbaby.com.sg/
http://www.confinementfood.com/

Cleaning Services

2009-11-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Here are a list of cleaning companies

A-Team: http://www.a-team.com.sg/
Beam Cleaning: http://www.beamcleaning.com/
Budget Cleaning: http://www.budgetcleaning.com.sg/
CleanHomes: http://clean.singaporehomes.biz/
Domestic One: http://www.domestic1.com.sg/
Eunike Cleaning: http://www.eunikeliving.com/
FirstCare Agency: http://www.firstcare.com.sg/
Genie Cleaning Centre: http://www.geniecleaning.com.sg/index.php
Green Cleaners: http://www.greencleaners.asia/
Home Carely Cleaning: http://www.homecarely.com.sg/
Home Express: http://www.homexpress-cleaning.com/
House Keepers Management: http://www.housekeepers-management.com/
Just Relax Home & Laundry: http://www.justrelax.com.sg/
Laundry Maid: http://www.laundry-maid.com.sg/
Mop Squad: http://www.mopsquad.com.sg/
Star Maid: http://www.starmaid.com.sg/

Easy cupcakes

2009-11-10T00:10:00.001-08:00

Ingredients:
1 tsp vanilla essence
3 small eggs or 2 large eggs
125g caster sugar
125g butter or margarine
125g self raising flour
Chocolate chip (optional)
1. Preheat oven to 180.
2. Put all ingredients in bowl. Add chocolate chips (optional) and beat them until mixture is smooth and lighter in color
3. Put paper cups in muffin tray
4. Half fill the cups with mixture.
5. Bake for 15 mins or until brown in color.
This is a very recipe you can bake for your kids or family and you can also bake together with them.

Mini Pizza

2009-11-09T22:33:00.001-08:00

Ingredient:
2 tsp (7g) dried yeast
1/2 tsp of salt
warm water
375g plain flour
2 tbsp olive oil
1. Combine yeast, salt and warm water, cover, stand in warm place until misture is frothy
2. Combine flour and oil in large glass bowl. Stir in yeast mixture and mix to a soft dough.
Knead dough until smooth and elastic.
Place dough in large oiled bowl, cover, in warm place until dough is 2x the size
3. Preheat oven to very hot
4. Put dough onto floured surface and knead until smooth. Divide into half, then half again, then half again. flatten dough with rolling pin until its thin.
5. transfer to oiled pizza pan or oven tray.
add topping* and bake for abt 20mins.
Im compiling the list of toppings. Thank u for your patience, mummies.

Baked potatos

2009-11-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

Wash the potato with skin. Prick it with fork and brush it with oil.
Baked in oven for ard an hr at 200'.
Cut open the top and spoon flesh out into a bowl. Mash and mix a little of butter, salt and pepper, oil and cheese.
fill the mixture in the potato skin. Top with cheese and return to oven for a few mins.
Suitable for 1 yr up to entire family

Corduroy

2009-11-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

A winning, completely childlike picture book in which a stuffed bear waiting hopefully in a toy department finds a home with a little black girl. Endearing, brightly colored pictures.

This story teaches children an excellent lesson. This is one of our favourites

We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury

2009-11-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

A father and his four children--a toddler, a preschool boy and two older girls--go on the traditional bear hunt based on the old camp chant: "We're going to catch a big one. / What a beautiful day! / We're not scared. / Oh-oh! Grass! / Long, wavy grass. / We can't go over it. / We can't go under it. / Oh, no! / We've got to go through it!" The family skids down a grassy slope, swishes across a river, sludges through mud and, of course, finally sees the bear, who chases them all back to their home. It's a fantastic journey--was it real or imagined?--with the family's actions (and interaction) adding to the trip a goodnatured, jolly mood. The design of the oversized volume alternates black-and-white drawings with gorgeous full-color watercolor paintings, which Oxenbury uses to wonderful effect.

This book is so sweet and the illustrations are so beautiful. The poor bear ends up going home alone.

Napping House by Audrey Wood

2009-11-09T08:16:00.000-08:00

There is a house,

a napping house,
where everyone is sleeping.

"Everyone," in this case is a snoring granny, a dreaming child, a dozing dog, a snoozing cat, a slumbering mouse... and a wakeful flea! Uh-oh. Looks like the napping house won't be napping for long. With their very own brand of humor, Audrey Wood and Don Wood create an appealing bedtime book compatible with Margaret Wise Brown's classic Goodnight Moon. This small, square board book, with its rhythmic, repetitive text and witty pictures in shades of ever-brightening blues and greens (as the night turns to day), is sure to be a winner with preschool insomniacs. The sleepy household congregates on Granny's bed, slowly building a very relaxed pile of bodies in shifting positions. Young readers will enjoy tracking the critters as they make their way, one by one, to the bed--and then guessing what will happen when the wakeful flea joins the heap.

This is another classic story. One of the great bedtime stories.

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

2009-11-09T07:51:00.000-08:00

This beguiling bedtime tale features a pip of a young rabbit and his indulgent parent. Searching for words to tell his dad how much he loves him (and to put off bedtime just an eentsy bit longer), Little Nutbrown Hare comes up with one example after another ("I love you as high as I can hop!"), only to have Big Nutbrown Hare continually up the ante. Finally, on the edge of sleep, he comes up with a showstopper: "I love you right up to the moon." (Dad does top this declaration too, but only after his little bunny falls asleep.) Effused with tenderness, McBratney's wise, endearing and droll story is enriched by the near-monochromatic backdrop of Jeram's pen-and-wash artwork, rendered earthy tones of moss, soft brown and gray for a visually quieting effect just right for that last soothing tale before sleep.

This is a sweet little book. This is a classic for some reason.
My gal wants me to read it over and over again. She would show me how much she loves me like the little hare in the book ie stretching her arms and hopping as high as she can. In return, she wants me to show her how much I love her like the big hare too.

The Going To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

2009-11-09T07:44:00.000-08:00

For a little one who is reluctant to go to bed, sometimes a silly book is just the ticket. And when it comes to silly books, Sandra Boynton is the undisputed queen. In The Going to Bed Book, an ark full of animals watches the sun go down and then prepares for bed. They take a bath ("in one big tub"), find pajamas, brush their teeth, do exercises up on deck (imagine an elephant jumping rope, a moose lifting weights, and a pig doing handstands), and finally say good night.

The moon is high. The sea is deep.
They rock and rock and rock to sleep.

One of my tót's fav bedtime book. It's a funny book.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

2009-11-09T07:32:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the perfect children's bedtime book, Goodnight Moon is a short poem of goodnight wishes from a young rabbit preparing for--or attempting to postpone--his own slumber. He says goodnight to every object in sight and within earshot, including the "quiet old lady whispering hush." Clement Hurd's illustrations are simple and effective, alternating between small ink drawings and wide, brightly colored views of the little rabbit's room.

Finding all of the items mentioned throughout the book within the pictures is a good bedtime activity--a reappearing little mouse is particularly pesky. By the end of the little rabbit's goodnight poem, the story has quieted to a whisper, and the drawings have darkened with nightfall. As you turn the last page, you can expect a sleepy smile and at least a yawn or two.

Seems like an ordinary boring book...but it's my tot's bedtime favourite. It has some magical way to soothe my tot to sleep every night.

Baby Full Month Celebration/ Baby Shower/ Baby Arrival Announcement

2009-11-09T07:22:00.000-08:00

Here are some links for full month celeb ideas:

Baby Bliss: http://www.babybliss.com.sg/Home.html
Bengawang Solo: http://www.bengawansolo.com.sg/
Blossoms: http://www.blossoms.com.sg/catalog/images/Babys1stMonth2008.jpg
Choz Confectionary: http://www.chozconfectionery.com/2007/home.php
Gin Thye: http://www.ginthye.com/index.aspx?uc=products_prodlist&CateID=92
Ji Xiang Confectionary: Blk 1, Everton Park #01-33 Tel 6223 1631 (Trad Ang Ku Kueh)
Juliana Gifts: http://www.julianagifts.com/
KYO: http://www.kyo.com.sg/products/fullmonth00.html
Le Precious: http://www.leprecious.com.sg/
Lifes Moments: http://www.lifesmoments.com.sg/
My Treasure Box: http://www.mytreasurebox.com.sg/
One Joy: http://www.onejoy.com/sg/index.php
Pateli Crave: http://www.pateliscrave.com/
Royal Cakes: http://www.royalcakes.com/fullmonthcakes.html

Eric Carle Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

2009-11-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

("Brown bear, brown bear, what do you see? I see a red bird looking at me. Red bird, red bird, what do you see? I see a ....."

I love this book, it is so fun and interesting to read.The illustrations are superb. It includes different animals of different color. This is one of my tot's favourite.

Dr Seus How the Grinch Stole Christmas?

2009-11-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

The Grinch, whose heart is two sizes too small, hates Who-ville's holiday celebrations, and plans to steal all the presents to prevent Christmas from coming. To his amazement, Christmas comes anyway, and the Grinch discovers the true meaning of the holiday.

A classic touching story for all including those who even slightly appreciates Christmas.

Dr Seus: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

2009-11-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

This is another great book of Dr Seuss.
It is very easy to read.ie
"Once there was a little Nook. On his hat he had a hook. On his hook he had a book. On his book was "How to Cook". But a Nook can't read and a Nook can't cook, so what good to a Nook is a hook cook book?" ...

One of our favorite's. Extremely good for beginning readers.