* * Sakura Haruka | Singapore Parenting and Lifestyle Blog * *

Ganban-yoku Therapy {岩盤浴} at Anti-Oxidant Centre, Upper Thomson + Promo Code

2013-05-19T13:30:00.000+08:00

If you haven't noticed yet, there's been more focus on health and wellness in our family this year. More exercise and runs, more healthy eating, more rest. However, it's not just the physical well-being I'm concerned about, but emotional and mental too.

To be honest, I've been feeling very tired for a long time. So tired that some days I just don't want to get out of bed to start the day, and it's a real pity because each day brings new beginnings and adventures. However, sometimes I feel like there's a million things running through my mind, so many things to do, so little time that I'm just so overwhelmed. I'm sure a lot of women out there feel the same when they are juggling work, family and their own individual aspirations.

I've been looking around for places to practise yoga as it doesn't only have great health benefits by enabling you to develop flexibility, strength and balance, but it also helps one to clear the mind and relax. Exactly what I need :)

When Bev organised a gathering with a few other lovely ladies at Anti-Oxidant Centre to try out their ganban-yoku yoga session, I really couldn't say no! She had already went there and was raving about it, so I was very excited to try too. It's like killing 2 birds with one stone - gaining the benefits of both ganban-yoku therapy and yoga!

Anti-Oxidant Centre is the first Japanese ganban-yoku {岩盤浴, rock bathing} spa in Singapore that provides a sanctuary for the body to rejuvenate itself and give a sense of well-being by infusing it with vital antioxidants. It's very popular in Japan and during the holistic spa treatment, people lie on heated granite {ganban} tile beds that release far infrared rays and negative ions to help the body to perspire and detoxify. The negative ions can penetrate the body to neutralise the effect of ageing and disease-causing free radicals. It's also supposed to increase metabolic rates and weight loss, reduce cholestrol levels, relieve pain caused by rheumatism and increase immune resistance.

Just relaxing on the ganban-yoku bed for 1 hour will burn 500 calories {like running for 5km!!} but if you want to get more out of your session, you can try ganban-yoga like we did. It's a combination of yoga practised in their Anti-Oxidant rooms. The gentle stretching and basic poses are great for beginners like me :) Being in the room is hot, but it's different from being inside a sauna. Unlike regular saunas, their rooms are kept between 39-41°C with humidity around 30%, so even though you perspire, it's still rather comfortable. The ganban-yoku beds also heat your body evenly and gently, unlike saunas that heat your body from the outside. A little girl around 6 years old was there with her mummy so I guess it's all right for young kids, as long as they can take the heat!

I enjoyed my trial session and plan on going there while Lil Pumpkin has her weekly art class. It's just across the road from her art school! I really need something to help me wind down after a hard work week. Last Friday the boy went with me and he enjoyed his first ganban-yoku therapy session too. Actually fell asleep in there Zzzzzz... He's open to going for ganban-yoga classes too so yay, killing 3 birds with one stone - gaining the benefits of both ganban-yoku therapy and yoga, AND couple bonding time!!

These are the Enzyme Juice {S$12 each} made fresh at the spa centre. It's a health drink for all ages that helps our bodies to digest, absorb and utilise nutrients while delivering oxygen throughout our bodies. It's all pretty yummy, but ginger is my fave flavour :) The selfie above was taken just after my ganbanyoku session last Friday. No filter, and you can see a tinge of rosy glow! #happiness

Promotion for Ganban-yoku and/or Ganban-yoga

Promo Code: Quote "Sakura Haruka" when making your appointment to get a S$10 ganban-yoku trial {U.P S$39} and/or S$20 ganban-yoga trial at Anti-Oxidant Centre. Only for new customers, and no expiry date.

{source}

By the way the whole interior of the centre is painted with Anti-Oxidant Home Building solution {AO solution}, which produces special microbes that interact with the environment to form negative ions that neutralise positively charged free radicals {causes cell damage & speed up aging process} found in the atmosphere and our bodies. With Japanese-based technology and more than 10 years of product testing, it can be easily mixed into your construction materials e.g. water-based paint, concrete, wood finishes etc. to create an environment with positive health benefits in your very own home.

As long as it is an enclosed room, the AO solution will work even if you have fans or air-conditioning. If there is too much ventilation in the room, the negative ions will flow away. The estimated cost of the AO solution supplies {excluding paint} for a large room of 4x4m, is S$590. With proper care and maintenance, the AO solution will work for at least 5 years. The anti-oxidant effect of the AO solition is powerful enough such that raw food such as an egg will not rot or decay. It's really true! There's a cracked raw egg at the Anti-Oxidant Centre that's been for months and even though it's hard, there's no smell or signs of decay!

Promotion for Anti-Oxidant Home Building solution

Promo Code: Quote "Sakura Haruka" to get 10% discount off Anti-Oxidant Home Building solution. No expiry date & 3 months money back guarantee that all treated rooms prevent raw food from spoiling.

Anti-Oxidant Centre
1 Thomson Ridge, near Thomson Plaza and Marymount MRT
Tel: 6756 0636
Website: http://anti-oxidantcentre.com.sg
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AntiOxidant.SG

* Disclosure: Ganban-yoga session was provided by Anti-Oxidant Centre for review. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own. The content is not presented by a qualified healthcare professional and is for informational purpose only. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please seek medical advice first before trying.

Must-Read | BLEAGH! A Book about Values

2013-05-17T06:30:00.001+08:00

Recently, I got reacquainted with my childhood friend, Leana Doray. We went to the same primary school together, before she left to pursue her studies overseas. I always remembered her as someone who was brilliant with English and humanities, and I somehow thought she would write a book one day. Lo and behold, that one day DID come because she just released her first book, BLEAGH! A book about values. Seriously, maybe I should change jobs and be a fortune-teller haha

BLEAGH! A book about values is a beautiful introduction to a series of 6 titles with full colour illustrations by a local children's illustrator, Little Pink Pebble. It was born from almost a decade of educating {and being educated} by curious young minds. I was very intrigued by Bleagh, the protagonist of the story, and ask Leana for her inspiration behind the book and monster character. She said that the impetus for writing the books stemmed from the fact that when she was teaching, she was unable to find a children's book that discussed the values she wanted to highlight to the students. Leana wanted to have a piece of literature that she could use as a starting point for discussion about values such as emphathy, tolerance and integrity because to her, educating a child means helping to shape caring and responsible global citizens.

A monster was chosen as a main character because they are more visually appealing. She also wanted to set him apart from the rest of the human students to reinforce the idea of what it is like to be unique, as it is something many children can relate to now that families move around the world so often.

Indeed, Bleagh captured Lil Pumpkin's attention very well as she does like weird and unusual characters :P I like that the book highlights that it's ok to be different, it's ok to be unique because life values such as emphathy, tolerance, cooperation, appreciation and integrity are more important than outward appearances. These values are all introduced in the book in a fun, easy-to-understand manner against visually stimulating backgrounds. When reading with Lil Pumpkin, I related the scenarios back to her own experiences in preschool and at social gatherings. She's already familiar with the concepts of the values, as we've been instilling them in her since young, but now I feel that it's reinforced even more each time we read the book. It is still too difficult for her to read the book on her own as a 4 years old, but I think it's more enriching when we read together anyways.

These values are important not just to a kid, but to any adult as well. To be kind, respectful and considerate. If more adults remembered these simple values, we won't be facing so much troubles on our MRT trains and our poor mascot for Singapore Kindness Movement, Singa, won't have to resign... agree?

I'm very proud of my friend Leanna, and can't wait for the other books in the series to be out. The other 5 books will be released over the next 14 months {last one will be in June 2014}, and the second book is currently being illustrated. BLEAGH! A book about values is definitely a must-have in your home library if not for your kid who's going to make a difference in this world, but for yourself.

The book is currently available at Kinokuniya and Times bookstores, priced at S$12. It will soon be available as an eBook through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and the iBookstore. Do check the book's Facebook page or website for updates. You can even download a book study there filled with questions and activities for before, during and after reading BLEAGH! A book about values.

* Disclosure: Leana Doray provided Bleah! A book about values for review. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday {linky party}: Joys of Parenting with Jiahui | Week 19

2013-05-15T06:00:00.000+08:00

Jiahui, mummy to Nicole {8}

"I enjoy learning new things about them"

Every parenting experience is unique, and I'm trying to capture all the different joys it brings :)

If you wish to share your joy, please email me at sakuraharuka {at} live {dot} com.

This photo is part of the 52 Weeks Joys of Parenting Photography series.

*****

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Energizer Night Trail Singapore 2013

2013-05-14T06:30:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday we went for our first Energizer Night Trail Singapore. Running a trail is so much more challenging than running on a road, especially at night! Thank goodness we started training early! It would be much better if we practised more on trails like at MacRitchie Reservoir, but no worries, it was all in good fun!

There's various race categories ranging from 6 - 18km for men & women trail races, and 1.5 - 3km for family-friendly parent-child obstacle races in the jungle. The parent-child obstacle races are very popular, just like those for the Safari Zoo Run. Even though race time is recorded, and prizes are given to the top finishers, the focus is help each and every participant complete the races. Do expect to get dirty and muddy though! ;p

This year's Energizer Night Trail took place at Lorong Asrama for the 3rd time in a row, opposite Mandai Lake Road. Lorong Asrama is a restricted area that's often used for army training, if I'm not wrong. It was my first time at that venue and boy, was it ulu {local term for deserted}! There's no parking at the event site, and participants had to take public transport or the event shuttle bus service to get there.

At first I felt it was quite inconvenient to not be able to drive up to the venue, but luckily the event shuttle bus service was very reliable. We parked at Causeway Point, which is near Woodlands MRT Station, then took the shuttle which was located just opposite Exit C. The shuttle buses arrived in intervals of 15 minutes, and it was just a 15 minutes ride to the venue from there. Not tooooo bad ;)

The Energizer Carnival was held in conjunction with the Night Trail from 3-9 pm. We arrived there in the evening to have some fun with Lil Pumpkin just before our 6km race. All games and rides {Reverse Bungee, Rodeo Ride, Rockwall, Vapour Blaster Games Station, Netball etc.} were free! Quick note though - don't ride the rodeo bull before your run. My thighs were aching even hours later!

The kids Treasure Hunt ticket cost S$2/try and all proceeds went to their adopted charity - Singapore Disability Sport Council. All children participants of the obstacle races received a complimentary Treasure Hunt Ticket in their race kits though. Lil Pumpkin really enjoyed this activity!

The Energizer Night Trail is definitely very thrilling, and unique from the rest of the runs offered in Singapore. Although there's light from your Energizer LED headlight {given in the race kit} guiding you over your distance, it still can be a little scary, especially for those not used to running on trails... like me hahaha. Check out the rest of the photos from Energizer Night Trail Singapore Facebook page and look out to register on their website if you are interested!

I Blog on Tues with Essentially Jess.

* Disclosure: The event coverage of Energizer Night Trail Singapore was due to an invitation from Energizer Singapore & Pink Apple Pte Ltd. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

Letter to my girl #10 | Happy 4th Birthday!

2013-05-12T11:30:00.000+08:00

Dear Lil Pumpkin,

Today you turn 4. Really, where did my baby go?? I still remember when you were a wee little one that just came into our world 4 years ago, crying for our love and attention. I've seen you grow from a bumbling baby who couldn't speak or do anything for herself, to a sweet young girl with a strong mind and character who knows what she wants, and goes all out to get it.

My dear, I see so much of myself in you day by day. A lot of people have mentioned that too :) You are my little mini-me and I'm so happy to have you by my side for the past 4 years. There have been days when I've been so sad and down, but seeing you never fails to brighten up my day.

You wanted a Pink Castle party to celebrate your special day with your little friends in preschool. Mummy and Daddy worked hard to create that castle cupcake stand from scratch, while Grandma helped Mummy with the cupcakes too. Despite the time and effort, it was all worth it when we saw your shining, happy face :) Never forget all the people who love you and will always be here to make your dreams come true.

You are not only the Princess that you think you are, but the Queen of our hearts too.

4 years ago was the day I became a mother. My life-changing moment. It so happens that your birthday falls on Mother's Day this year which makes it even more meaningful. We had an early celebration at your preschool a few days back, and tonight we will be having a family dinner with your two grandmas too because without them, there would be no Daddy or Mummy, and no you!

Lil Pumpkin, you are the most precious gift I can have as a mum, and there's nothing more I want on Mother's Day. We love you so, so much. Blessed 4th birthday, and may you grow up strong, healthy and happy always.

Love always,
Mummy

Memories of Old Rattan Gems

2013-05-10T06:30:00.000+08:00

After my Hokkaido Chiffon Cupcakes baking class, I went for a little walk while waiting for the boy to pick me up and chanced upon this old shop selling rattan furniture gems. It brought back memories for me because my childhood home had a lot of rattan furniture. Long before there was Ikea or Scanteak, I think rattan furniture was very popular in local households because of its affordability and durability. I remember our rattan bookshelves, old sofa set made of white rattan, and the rattan reading chair my sister brought back from my aunt's place, which is still in my parent's room by the way.

Pretty sure we had one of those rattan child seats too. They seem so special and intricately made. I wish I could bring something like that little rattan rocking chair home for Lil Pumpkin, but as it is, we're supposed to be decluttering at home :/ I can so imagine her reading a book while rocking her time away... ahh such bliss!

The boy's grandma had a cupboard just like this in their family home in Malacca. I saw it when I went up with him one year to celebrate Chinese New Year. If I'm not wrong, in the old days when people did not have fridges, they kept their food inside the cupboard with mesh doors to keep it cool and the insects away.

I always feel a sense of glee when I discovers shops filled with memories like this, yet a little sadness in knowing that such trades are disappearing fast in Singapore. Will this shop still be open when Lil Pumpkin is old enough to shop for her own furniture? I'm pretty sure all these beautiful rattan pieces were handcrafted... and it is a tedious, yet low-paying job that's why not many youngsters want to take it up. There was an old man sitting in the shop having lunch and if I wasn't feeling that tired, I might have walked in to chat with him and learn more about his shop.

Some people are amused {surprised even?} by how I can just walk up to random strangers and chat with them, like what I'm doing for my Joys of Parenting series. It's not that I'm extremely outgoing {well, more than some I guess} but if you want to do something out of the ordinary, be it to inspire others to find what they love about being parents or to satisfy your curiosity in life, you have to step out of your comfort zone. It's ok to try and fail, but never fail to try.

Anyway, I'll probably go back with the boy to pick something up and support this dying trade. Good enough reason to shop there, yes? :P Don't worry hubs, I promise to throw away some "stuff" first!

What other gems have you discovered recently?

Happy Mother's Day 2013!

2013-05-09T10:30:00.001+08:00

Another year gone by and Mother's Day is upon us again! Honestly, I only realised it was this Sunday last week. If I didn't keep receiving so many PR pitches and reminders about gifts to get your mother, I wouldn't have remembered it's coming up soon haha. Coincidentally, Lil Pumpkin turns 4 this Sunday and I've been busy preparing for her birthday celebrations that I didn't really bother much about Mother's Day.

Lil Pumpkin's preschool had an early Mother's Day celebration again yesterday and the mummies gathered in their classroom to watch the little one sing a "Happy Mother's Day" song in English and Chinese :) Absolutely precious! Then, the kids gave us little carnation flowers they potted themselves with hand-drawn cards.. awww!

Close-up of the beautiful blooms Lil Pumpkin gave me. This is the first time she gave me flowers and even though I'm not really a carnations fan, I love them! *tears of joy* See my Vine video of it here :)

We all had lunch with our darling bubs before going back. Unfortunately, some of the mums couldn't come to the celebration for some reason and their kids were so upset to see the other mummies there, but not theirs :/ Times like these I'm really grateful for a flexible working environment that allows me to attend to Lil Pumpkin's precious moments. It would kill me to have her be one of those kids that cried and didn't have their mums by their side when everyone else did, especially on this dedicated day when they made gifts and practised hard to perform for us. I'm sure those mums feel terrible about it too and I hope they all have a good celebration this Sunday.

Thanks for your precious flowers, Lil Pumpkin... and for just being yourself. You are the best gift to me as a mother. Mummy is truly very, very blessed and happy to have you in my life!

Wishing all mums a beautiful Happy Mother's Day in advance!

Wordless Wednesday {linky party}: Joys of Parenting with Pauline | Week 18

2013-05-08T06:00:00.000+08:00

Pauline, mummy to Joyce {6}

"I enjoy laughing with my kids"

Every parenting experience is unique, and I'm trying to capture all the different joys it brings :)

If you wish to share your joy, please email me at sakuraharuka {at} live {dot} com.

This photo is part of the 52 Weeks Joys of Parenting Photography series.

*****

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Come back every Wednesday!! :)

UNIQLO x NoiseSG Pop-Up! #UTPopUp #ユニクロ

2013-05-06T10:30:00.000+08:00

On Saturday we checked out the UNIQLO's UT Pop-Up! Singapore event that was open for 2 days only at 72-13, a converted rice warehouse along Mohamed Sultan Road. If you haven't already heard, this year UNIQLO developed a chain of pop-up stores that started in Tokyo and opened in New York, Paris, London and now Singapore.

We are HUUUGEEE UNIQLO fans so definitely couldn't give this a miss! I registered early for the event and managed to get my hands on the exclusive goodie bag heehee. I hope to win a prize in their lucky draw too. 1st prize is a year's supply of UNIQLO vouchers worth S$2,000! (^^)V

There was a selected range of UNIQLO graphic T-shirts {UT} for purchase, which included some UT designs that haven't been launched in the stores yet. We participated in the UT Camera {fun new app to share a short animated pic in the global UT Camera gallery, something like Vine. Find me as @AiSakuraHaruka} booth and received discount vouchers for our purchases at UT Pop-Up! Pretty good deal and I bought 5 T-shirts & tunics mostly from Laduree and Cabbages & Roses, while the boy got one from the One Piece collection ;p I wanted some tops from Lulu Guiness but they were already gone by the time we reached!

Noise Singapore local musicians performed during the event, and their artists also designed the special limited edition T-shirts at the bottom right pic. All proceeds from the sale of UNIQLO x Noise Singapore tees will go to Transmission, a multi-disciplinary arts incubatory platform.

The boy and Lil Pumpkin at the huge UT display on the first floor of 72-13. Too bad there weren't any kids collections at the event. Sorry Pumpkin!

Each of us received a complimentary photo badge too. So cute! It's our first family photo badge heehee.

Overall I felt UT Pop-Up! was pretty well run and although it was crowded, there was more than enough place to browse and enjoy the music. Oh, there was also a showcase by Noise Singapore photographers on the first floor showing how UT is rooted in our daily lives in Singapore, but because it was too dark and smoky, I don't think a lot of people paid attention to it. Maybe they should move the showcase to the second floor where the UT collections were instead as it was brighter.

I hope UT Pop-Up! comes back to Singapore next year! :)

Celebrate Fatherhood: Learn to Appreciate Yourself | Guestpost by Daddy Isaiah of JBabies' Dad

2013-05-05T11:30:00.000+08:00

Sakura Haruka is not a blog just about celebrating motherhood. It shares the joys {& frustrations!} of parenting and of families as a whole. Inspired by my hubby's thoughts on being a dad, Celebrate Fatherhood is thus a monthly series where daddies from all walks of life share insights about what fatherhood means to them, and how we can appreciate their role in a family too.

I sincerely thank all those who took the time to guest post for me. Most of those I approached were very supportive and enthusiastic about this new series, sharing my belief that being an involved dad, and getting the dads involved, is important in building a strong family. If you have a story to share, please email me at sakuraharuka {at} live {dot} com.

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When Ai asked me to write a guest post on her series of Celebrate Fatherhood, I was a bit apprehensive. I mean there are already so many fathers who have contributed to the series, what else can I possibly add on that might be different? As I sat down to pen this post, it gave me the chance to reflect on my short tenure of being a father (7 years).

Let me break it down by time line:
Year 0 – Getting ready to receive our first born into the family, nothing can be prepared beforehand of what is to come. I have decided to be a hands-on daddy, be it feeding, bathing, changing diapers, making milk, etc. Fatherhood is anticipation.

Year 1 – Baby is more interactive now, more attention seeking. But the joy of seeing my darling Joey always outweighs the tiredness from work. Fatherhood is enjoyment.

Year 2 – Experiencing the so call ‘terrible two’ symptom. It seems like fatherhood is no longer easy or fun. It is during this period I questioned my decision of having kids. Without Joey, I could have enjoyed life with the missus. I missed my ‘freedom’ nights. Fatherhood is tough.

Year 3 – Time to think and plan for another child. Seriously, I have never thought of a boy, I mean girls are so cute and I am quite enjoying Joey’s ‘daddy’s girl’ attention. Fatherhood is heavy responsibility.

Year 4 – Birth of a second girl (yea!). Reliving the entire experience of sleepless nights and 2-hr shift work. However, the sight of seeing Joey carrying baby Jayne really ensured me that all is worth it. At the same time, I have to grapple with the cruelty of seeing how Joey cries non-stop when she starts to attend Nursery. Fatherhood is heart wrenching.

Year 5 – This is probably the easiest year of all. Joey is enjoying school and Jayne is super duper cute. Fatherhood is heaven.

Year 6 – Another round of ‘terrible two’. No amount of experience or preparation is enough cos every child is so different even though the factory is the same. Fatherhood is unexplainable.

Year 7 – Joey attends Primary 1 in my alumni school. This is exactly how I have imagined on the day she was born, my child studying in the same school as me. Amazing! Jayne starts Nursery and I have grown emotionally stronger, to stay calm when I see her cry in the morning but laughingly tells me her day when I pick her up after work. Fatherhood is growing up.

Are fathers appreciated? Who and how should we appreciate fathers?
I believe family (wife and kids) should show love and support as fathers do go have to make tough decisions and usually we do not have much support from other fathers around (unlike mothers). But personally I stand on the belief that a father should learn to appreciate himself. If we do not know how important our role is, or if we do not have a healthy self-image as a father, we will not be able to live strong and do well.

Daddy is a choice! The moment I have decided to be a father that decision stays forever!

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Isaiah Kuan is married to the most wonderful woman in his life, Klessis, and father to 2 beautiful girls, Joey and Jayne aka JBabies, from which his blog is named after. He is an accountant by training, but a pastoral worker in life. Besides his family and God, he is also passionate about Liverpool Football Club and photography.

I hope that the boy recognises his value and appreciates his importance, even if sometimes we fail to do so sometimes. I may not say it often enough, but he is a great son, brother, father, and husband. He has definitely made me a better person, just by being who he is, and I hope he knows that.

Read all Celebrate Fatherhood posts here.

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Bub & Me: Marvel's Iron Man 3 Family Movie Date

2013-05-03T06:30:00.001+08:00

Since we saw the ad for Iron Man 3 during Lil Pumpkin's first movie experience, we've been looking forward to catching the movie when it was released. However, as we've ALL been ill for the past week or so, we couldn't watch it during its opening weekend. It really is horrible when the whole family is down :((( We've been battling with diarrhea, conjunctivitis, flu... urgh.

Anyway on May Day we felt kinda better and finally managed to watch it at FilmGarde Cineplex, Bugis+. Lil Pumpkin was so excited!! It was a real treat too as we've been cooped up at home for a few days to recuperate.

I'm not really into Marvel's comics, although I did watch The Avengers and Captain America movies. I think I started liking Iron Man from watching The Avengers. He's my fave Avengers character because of the charismatic and witty Robert Downey Jr. Seriously, I cannot imagine another actor playing Iron Man. Can you??

The boy nommed on some Berrylite yogurt before the movie started. So yummy! You can get a free topping with your FilmGarde movie ticket stub :) We also bought the usual popcorn and snacks to munch on during the movie.

The FilmGarde cinema doesn't seem as comfortable as a GV cinema. The leg space isn't as big, and you can't lift the arm-rests up. Also, the restrooms are located outside the cinemas at the end of a corridor. Bummer.

Lil Pumpkin realllly didn't like the plastic booster seat this time so she sat on my lap for most part of the movie. She also wasn't that into her popcorn but luckily we had a back-up plan - french fries!! haha. Parents always need Plan B, C, D, E etc. in case Plan A doesn't work ;p She happily nommed on it while watching the movie and didn't talk too much. There were, of course, the occasional questions {why does he have blood on his face??} but no distracting chatter from her. Phew!

Iron Man 3 is such a brilliantly entertaining movie with a few twists {don't worry, I won't give it away here!} that I won't mind watching it again actually. It's rated PG-13 because of its action and violent scenes, but there's nothing too gruesome or sexual. Lil Pumpkin has seen the previous Avengers movies and has been exposed to sci-fi films of this sort, so we are comfortable with bringing her to watch the film. I think if your kids have watch Lord of the Rings {which is also rated PG-13} or other Avengers movies with epic battle scenes, they should be all right to watch Iron Man 3.

I love our family movie date and look forward to having more :) What other good movies should be look out for in 2013?

P.S. If you do intend to watch Iron Man 3, please stay until the end of the credits before leaving the cinema!!

Read about the other fun activities we did with Lil Pumpkin or my list of Kid-Friendly places in Singapore.

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Wordless Wednesday {linky party}: Joys of Parenting with Alvin & Rachel | Week 17

2013-05-01T06:00:00.000+08:00

Alvin & Rachel, parents to Asher {1.5}

"I enjoy teaching him to speak!"

Every parenting experience is unique, and I'm trying to capture all the different joys it brings :)

If you wish to share your joy, please email me at sakuraharuka {at} live {dot} com.

This photo is part of the 52 Weeks Joys of Parenting Photography series.

*****

Note: Highlight the code & press Ctrl + C buttons to copy.

You are not able to just highlight and right click to copy any text on my blog.

Grab my button & place it in your post or sidebar, or text link back to my party.
Add me on Google Friend Connect or Facebook before you link up.
Come back every Wednesday!! :)

*****

30 Before 30 | Update for April 2013

2013-04-30T06:30:00.000+08:00

I'll be updating my 30 Before 30 List every 4 months to make sure that I'm track. I really want to make these happen and not just let them slip away with time as most new year resolutions :)

In no particular order,

1. Have Baby #2 - tentatively to be known as Lil Munchkin.
2. Travel to Europe - must visit Denmark, France, Germany, London, Greece.
3. Complete our outdoor chillax area.
4. Master Korean language. {started new classes but hitting some bumps}
5. Learn how to balloon-sculpt
6. Travel to Vietnam - buy cheap cheongsums, eat cheap food!
7. Start driving in Singapore.
8. Teach Lil Pumpkin how to swim - I used to be a competitive swimmer.
9. ~~Prepare a media kit for Sakura Haruka~~ {Done in Dec 2012}
10. Get a new tattoo on my back.
11. Start indoor rock-climbing again.
12. ~~Buy a new sofa. Or maybe just throw away current one & get more zabutons {座布団}~~ {threw out our black sofa on Tue 15/1/13 & brought out our teak day-bed }
13. Start a once-a-month detox program.
14. Enroll Lil Pumpkin in dancing classes - hip hop? korean pop? ballet?
15. Set up my own workspace at home. Couch not counted.
16. Go back to Kansai for 2 weeks - Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe.
17. Sort out digital photo storage on computer. Make sure there's back-up!
18. Handmake a Teacher Journal for Lil Pumpkin.
19. Create a time-capsule for Lil Pumpkin to open on 16th birthday.
20. Try horse-riding.
21. Eat something I've never eaten or heard of before.
22. Go for a staycation in Singapore - chalet? Sentosa?
23. Go camping.
24. ~~Bring Lil Pumpkin to Disneyland~~ {went Tokyo Disneyland Thu 3/1/13}
25. Prepare an emergency survival kit and plan
26. Attend a music concert or Broadway performance {we're watching Phantom of the Opera soon!}
27. Write a children's story. Maybe find someone to illustrate it Le-Petite-Prince style.
28. Lose 5 kg - been on all my new year's resolution lists like forever. Let's do it!
29. Take photos of all my SF shoes.
30. ~~Get Lil Pumpkin to sleep in her own room~~ {been sleeping with daddy there since beginning Apr 2013!}

I Blog on Tues with Essentially Jess. Have you started on your new year resolutions yet?

*****

Hokkaido Chiffon Cupcakes {北海道シフォンカップケーキ} Baking Class

2013-04-28T12:30:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I attended my first baking class with Munch Ministry and had such a good time! It's been a while since I experimented with a fresh recipe, and so was very eager to learn a new one, especially on how to bake Hokkaido Chiffon Cupcakes. Did you know they are not actually from Hokkaido, Japan? Surprise! It's just named so because the original recipe used milk from Hokkaido :P

Hokkaido Chiffon Cakes are light and fluffy with a custard/ whipped cream filling. I like the soft texture and taste that's not overly sweet. The cakes are pretty popular in Singapore, and can be quite expensive. From the class, I learnt that it's actually rather easy to make and I'll definitely be baking more of these for my family... and myself, of course haha.

We had our morning class at the newly-renovated cooking studio at the Civil Service Club that was just opened last December. Pauline and Louisa from Munch Ministry started off by demonstrating how to make the egg yolk mixture, meringue and cream filling for the cakes. They were very clear in their instructions and offered us extra tips or alternatives if we didn't have some ingredients at home, like using grapeseed oil instead of vegetable oil. Overall, it'll take about 1.5 hour to bake and decorate the cakes.

Delphine was my baking partner and it was fantastic catching up with her again :) Actually, we met the night before for a ganban-yoku yoga class {more on that in another post!} so I guess we earned our right to some delicious desserts ;p She and I took turns trying out each baking step and ~~camwhoring to prove that we did it all on our own~~ taking photos to remember our lovely baking experience together ;p Our cakes turned out very well, if I do say so myself. And yes, even Pauline said so! #domesticgoddesses #ftw

These are the other lovely SMB mums that attended the baking class as well to celebrate our group's first birthday! Such a great activity planned because what's a birthday without some cake?? :) Awesome finally meeting some of the lovely ladies I've chatted with online for the past year haha

Sorry I can't share the recipe we used here, as it's exclusive to the baking class, but believe me when I say the cakes taste irresistible :P You can try the other Hokkaido Chiffon Cakes recipes on the Munch Ministry website though. They will be holding more baking and cooking classes as well that you can enroll to learn how to make this and other yummy goodness, so keep a lookout!

*****

Japan 2013 | Tokyo Disneyland Theme Park Adventure

2013-04-26T06:30:00.001+08:00

Why visit: The Happiest Place on Earth!
Recommended time to spend: 1 day
Nearest train station: Maihama station {JR Line}

The boy and I have been to Tokyo Disneyland {and DisneySea} a few times but I guess the happiest, most magical time must be during our last trip, because we brought Lil Pumpkin there for the first time! It's one of the things I wanted to achieve for my 30 before 30 list, and I'm glad to strike it off.

Ever since Lil Pumpkin fell in love with the Disney Princesses, she's been wanting to go to the castle and I'm glad we helped to fulfill her dream too! It was definitely even more magical exploring Disneyland with our little girl, and seeing all the wonders through her eyes. She was truly, truly happy and that made my heart sing!

Lil Pumpkin didn't go Disneyland on her previous Japan trips because we thought she was too young to remember. At 3+ years old, she's able to appreciate the splendour of Disneyland better and form fond memories of it.

We were debating whether to go to DisneySea instead {it would be too tiring to go to both as we didn't stay at the resort} since Lil Pumpkin loved Ariel and there would be more attractions of her there, but since it was Lil Pumpkin's first time to visit a Disney theme park, it would be best to go Disneyland first as it captures the whole Disney magic. We saved DisneySea for our next Tokyo adventure.

Our Tokyo Disneyland visit was a few days after the New Year so the theme park had its New Year's programs and decorations up. Hurray because I love Daruma-anything and this year's New Year decorations and souvenirs were centered around the Daruma {達磨, Japanese doll which symbolises good luck} theme and even Mickey and Minnie were in their kimonos too! Lil Pumpkin didn't get a chance to take photos with any Disney characters because of the huge crowd, but she was still very delighted to see them outside of the TV heh

There are seven magical lands in Tokyo Disneyland {World Bazaar, Adventureland, Westernland, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Toon Town and Tomorrowland} and I don't think anything has changed much since our last visit a few years back. Because of the New Year programs and holiday week, there were a lot of people even though we went on a weekday and Disney's FASTPASS could not be used... bummer! Shouldn't it be all the more available during this time??

Disney's FASTPASS is a system that lets you minimise the amount of time waiting in line at certain attractions by assigning you a specific time to enter. It's very convenient, plus free to use {unlike the Express Pass for Universal Studios Singapore} but too bad we couldn't use it this trip :( Despite that, we queued {sometimes for up to an hour!} and did manage to sit on most of the kiddy rides with Lil Pumpkin, but gave the high-speed, thrilling attractions a miss. Her favourite attraction was, as expected, the visit to Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall. She still remembers it up to today! :)

Another spectacular she enjoyed was the night fireworks, which went off just before the theme park closed. Absolutely breath-taking and worth staying until the end for!

We brought Lil Pumpkin's stroller along because we knew she would be having her afternoon nap, plus it's handy to hold our shopping bags and barang barang haha. There are strollers and wheelchairs available for rental too. Don't worry about leaving them at the parking area to go on the rides, service staff are always available nearby and I've never heard of them geting stolen in Tokyo Disneyland. If you are still nursing not to worry as well because there are spacious Baby Centers around the park for nursing/ feeding the kids and changing diapers. Some even sell baby food too. When we went it was a very chilly day, so we rested there for a while to keep warm as its heated ;p

While we were there, a little boy dropped his bucket of popcorn twice and was very upset because about 3/4 was gone. The parents of course were upset too but a Disneyland staff came along and helped to clean up. Then, without even being asked, she offered to get a refill for the little boy FREE OF CHARGE! It certainly made the family's day and the boy was happy again :) Hubby was quite surprised at this but I wasn't at all. I expected the Disneyland staff to do it, and would be surprised if she didn't. After all, this was Disneyland, the happiest place on Earth and even more so in Japan, you can expect them to keep to that service commitment!

We are going back to Japan in June again this year so I'm trying to write down memories from our last trip before we go. Do keep a look out for these Japan travel posts!

Read more about our Japan travels here.

*****

Wordless Wednesday {linky party}: Joys of Parenting with Endah | Week 16

2013-04-24T06:00:00.000+08:00

Endah, mummy to Sekar {23 months}

"I enjoy dancing with her!"

Every parenting experience is unique, and I'm trying to capture all the different joys it brings :)

If you wish to share your joy, please email me at sakuraharuka {at} live {dot} com.

This photo is part of the 52 Weeks Joys of Parenting Photography series.

*****

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Grab my button & place it in your post or sidebar, or text link back to my party.
Add me on Google Friend Connect or Facebook before you link up.
Come back every Wednesday!! :)

*****

Stay Healthy Effectively | Body Analytics Scales {Giveaway}

2013-04-22T10:00:00.000+08:00

Since we had so much fun at the Singapore Safari Zoo Run 2013, we'll be joining the Energizer Night Trail {more on that in another post after the run} in early May. This time the boy and I have to race {not a fun run like before!!} for 6km so we've been training more for the past few weeks. I'll be honest and say that it's tough because I've never been much of a runner. Swimming, no problem, but running was never my strong point. However, I'm excited to complete my first night race and it may be the start to many others to come as I've discovered a lot of interesting races and routes in Singapore! There seems to be one every month haha

Anyway the good thing about exercising more is not just that you feel more energised, but it helps me lose some weight too. I've a goal to lose 5kg in my 30 before 30 List and if I keep up with my running, I think I might actually be able to make it! To help me monitor this more effectively, I've been using Re Lifestyle's Body Analytics Scale.

A body analytics scale is similar to a regular bathroom scale in that you step on it and get a reading. However, in addition to your weight reading, it also measures your bone mass, BMI as well as body fat, body water and muscle mass!

It's pretty interesting to track, especially if you are on a healthy weight management program. It can be frustrating when the number of the scale doesn't budge but you're exercising your butt off and eating healthily... however, it may be that your body composition is changing even if your body weight stays the same!

A regular bathroom scale won't be able to tell you this, but a body analytics scale is able to tell you when you are losing body fat and gaining muscle. Muscle is heavier than fat but a kilo of fat does take up more volume than a kilo of muscle. So, even if your overall body weight doesn't change, if you are gaining muscle you are leaner, stronger and your resting metabolic rate is raised so that you actually burn fat even when sleeping. Sounds too good to be true, but it is ;p If you understand your body composition better, you can tailor your health programs to your needs better.

Body analytics scales use Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis {BIA} to work. Simply put, a very small, harmless electrical current passes through your body tissues and resistance is measured. The current passes through fat slower, and quicker through muscles. The scale than takes this reading and uses a formula to give the different readings.

Re Lifestyle's Body Analytics Scales are very easy to use, and comes with a user-friendly manual with charts to help you understand the readings. Slim and light, they are easy to store too. There are 3 designs to choose from to suit your personal home style, but all work the same way. My fave is the zen Bamboo since I like wooden furniture. So rustic and charming. The boy prefers the sleek black Noir which has a high quality tempered-glass platform and modern design with makes it safe and fashionable. The metallic Carbon is a little smaller than the rest, and seems kinda futuristic.

By the way body analytics scales are useful for monitoring your weight trend or health program progress, but we shouldn't get too obsessive which what numbers come out and comparing it to charts of what we should be "ideally". Health isn't all about what the scales tell us, and is never an accurate reflection of our fitness level. Staying healthy is also about keeping our minds, body and souls happy :)

Thanks to Re Lifestyle, I'm giving away THREE Body Analytics Scale {worth S$130 each} to my special readers! The winners can choose their preferred design {Carbon, Noir or Bamboo}, and are chosen from a random draw.

Giveaway Method: Random Draw

1. Be a Sakura Haruka Facebook page fan

2. Be a Re Lifestyle Facebook page fan

3. Share this post link on your Facebook wall and tag our pages. Make sure your post is public so we can view it!

4. Leave me a blog comment telling me your preferred design + name of your FB account that you used to like the page + email add. For those unsure of how to comment, choose "Name/URL" option then add your name and comment.

THREE random winners will be chosen. Just complete all 4 simple steps!

Details:
* Open to Singapore residents only.
* Ends Sunday, 5 May 13 2359hrs {Singapore time}
* Incomplete or inappropriate entries will be deemed invalid and will not be included.
* All winners will be announced on Thursday, 9 May 13 on this blog post and notified via email. Winners have 5 days to reply, or the prizes will be redrawn.
* Sakura Haruka is not responsible for any prizes lost, damaged or misplaced in the mail.

UPDATE: The giveaway has ended. The winners are Leonora Koh, Melvin Lee and Jay Jay. Stay tuned for more blog giveaways on Sakura Haruka! Check out my current readers promos too. Thanks for your support!

* Disclosure: Re Lifestyle provided the Body Care Analytics Scales for review and giveaway. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

Bub & Me: The Mighty Singapore Merlion

2013-04-19T06:30:00.001+08:00

The funny thing about living in a country, is that you tend to take it for granted. Like when I visit another country, I'll take the time to research and visit the famous sights, sound & food areas, but when staying in one, I tend to think "oh, there will always be time" so don't really bother about doing any much exploring and just live day-to-day in familiar haunts {e.g Orchard Road, Serangoon Gardens, along the Singapore River etc in Singapore}.

Fortunately, it's gotten better since Lil Pumpkin came along though. We try to tickle her senses and explore a different part of Singapore every weekend. Honestly, I enjoy it because it's fun traveling with the family even within a country {国内旅行}, and it helps us to learn more about Singapore too. Kids being kids, Lil Pumpkin asks some random questions sometimes so it's best to read up beforehand on the places' history ;p Sometimes we go off-the-beaten-path {e.g. Kampong Buangkok}, sometimes it's to more touristy areas like the Merlion Park at One Fullerton.

The Merlion is a Singapore mascot and a mythical creature with the head of a lion & body of a fish. The lion head represents Singapore's origins to be a "lion city" {it's said that the first beast the person who founded Singapore saw was a lion, hence the name} and the fish body was because Singapore used to be a fishing village.

Yeah, I like to be a tourist and cam-whore in front of famous icons too hahahaha. Have you seen Lil Pumpkin and my "Zero to Ten" poses in front of the Merlion? #AsiansAtWork

The Merlion Park actually has 2 Merlion structures, the original Merlion statue {8.6m} sprouting water into the Singapore River, and a cute baby Merlion cub {2m}. There's a few nice cafes around, and it's walking distance from other famous places of interest like the Padang, St Andrew's Cathedral and Raffles City. There's also a souvenir shop nearby but unless you want to be ripped off, I don't recommend you buying any omiyage from there. I had a look and a miniature wooden Merlion costs S$68! The best place to buy Singapore souvenirs in my opinion is at... Mustafa Centre ;p

It really was so packed over the weekend so if you do want to visit and get nice photographs, try to go over the weekdays. See my Vine video on it here.

I thought Lil Pumpkin would be so excited to see the Merlion since well, she likes mermaids but apparently they are unrelated in her mind haha. She did take time to admire it, but was more excited to run about the open space and play on the steps near the sea.

There's actually 5 official Merlion statues in Singapore! One at Sentosa Island, two at Merlion Park, one more at Tourism Court {near Grange Road} and another at Mount Faber. We've visited 3 so far and I hope to see the other 2 with Lil Pumpkin soon :)

Read about the other fun activities we did with Lil Pumpkin or my list of Kid-Friendly places in Singapore.

Wordless Wednesday {linky party}: This is How We Photograph #ZeroToTen #AsiansAtWork

2013-04-17T06:00:00.000+08:00

Today we take a break from Joys of Parenting because Lil Pumpkin and I want to feature the "Zero to Ten" Camwhore Theory from Asians at Work #itsfunnybecauseitstrue

Running out on ideas for WW? Come show us your own "Zero to Ten" Camwhore Theory :P And hey, you don't have to be Asian to join in the fun!

P.S We're standing in front of the Merlion, a Singapore icon. Come back on Friday to find out more on it!

*****

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Add me on Google Friend Connect or Facebook before you link up.
Come back every Wednesday!! :)

The Kampong Spirit at Home

2013-04-16T06:30:00.000+08:00

We are very fortunate to stay next to a very lovely neighbour, Mrs A. You know, the kind that will help take in your mail, give your kids toys, look out for strangers loitering if you're away for too long.

We have some plants in the corridor that we share and Mrs A will even help us to water the plants and trim away the dead leaves. I do like to keep plants but unfortunately, I've no green fingers. Even cactus dies on me :( Fortunately, with Mrs A's help, our plants have lasted for about 2 years since we bought them.

Our plants' soil has hardened somewhat and Mrs A told us that we should get some new soil. We've been sitting on it for a while and one fine day, we came home to find a new packet of soil. No doubt bought by Mrs A. But being the ~~lazy home gardeners~~ busy folks that we are, we left that sitting under our patio table for a bit longer.

I think Mrs A gave up and yesterday, we discovered new soil in our pots. Oooops. I'm kind of embarrassed that she's taking better care of our plants than us, yet so grateful that we have such kind neighbours to look out for us. Is this the kind of kampong spirit that the government was talking about? The kind where neighbours supported each other and treated one another like family members just because we are bonded by our common space? I've never lived in a kampong {Malay village} before but I heard that it was a hotbed of informal volunteering; where neighbours helped one another on a spontaneous basis out of friendship for the good of the entire community. It seems like that's how it is at home now, as we do look out for Mrs A and family too.

I'd like to give Mrs A our plants since she deserves them more than we do but I think they are too beaten to be given as a gift. I reckon baking Mrs A a thank-you cake this weekend would be much better ;)

I Blog on Tues with Essentially Jess. Does the kampong spirit exist where you live?

Dinner @ Bliss House Theme Restaurant, The Central Clarke Quay

2013-04-14T11:30:00.000+08:00

Some of our relaxing family weekends are spent around the Singapore River and we recently were introduced to Bliss House, a new themed restaurant at The Central, Clarke Quay. It's operating now for its soft launch, but the official opening will be on 30 April 2013.

Entering Bliss House is like entering a secret, romantic garden in the middle of the shopping mall. At the beginning is their signature horse carriage that leads to the beautiful garden covered with green carpet grass and bouquets of sweet flowers. It is very whimsical and you know one of those places that takes you out of bustling Singapore and makes you feel like you're chilling at an overseas cafe? That.

I love the simple white furniture and attention to detail with the mailbox & garden lamps that made the garden-theme come even more alive.
Further inside at the end of the garden is a dreamy little "house" where you can sit to listen to music from a grand white piano while dining, or enjoy a little masquerade party with the masks available for loan. I was pretty amazed that the restaurant was so big and apparently it can sit 188 pax! There's a lot of comfortable space around to explore {great for kids!} and take photos with the different props available.

After their official opening, Bliss House will be having mini-concerts with Steinway, their official music partner. Customers will be able to enjoy the lovely performances from local & foreign artists while eating from special menus designed just for the concerts. Lucky for us, we had a little "performance" by Lil Pumpkin that night as well ;p Watch her play the piano on this Vine video. It may not sound like much, but it's still beautiful music to our ears :)
While waiting for our dinner to be served, the boy and I had some cocktails & mocktails from their resident mixologist. Bliss House has an inhouse bar that is open all day and the mixologist makes each drink with only the freshest fruits and ingredients. Daily specials are available, or if you have a specific taste, feel free to ask for special requests. Their signature drink is the Pear & Vanilla Martini that tastes just like refreshing vanilla ice-cream... Mmmmmm.

The restaurant serves mid-priced, sumptuous modern European cuisine and our appetizers were Buffalo Mozzarella Wrap with Proscuitto toped with Olive Tapenade, Quesadillas {Mexican Pancakes} with Spiced Chicken and Shredded Mozzerella and Baked Button Mushroom with Ratatouille & Alfalfa Sprouts

I think it was our first time eating quesadillas and were pleasantly surprised that although they were pan-seared until crispy, they were not oily at all. Even Lil Pumpkin liked it, together with the mushrooms that was bursting with flavour from each bite.The appetizers were all pretty big portions so by the time we started on our mains, we were quite full already, but couldn't resist finishing our delicious main dishes.

The boy had Braised Beef Shortrib in Sherry Wine served with Truffle Mash which he said was very soft and delectable. I had the Seabream wrapped in Crispy Phyllo on Butternut Pumpkin Purée which I found the fish to be a little dry actually. The dish does not taste great when cold so best eat it fast when they serve it hot! Lil Pumpkin ate most of the Miso Cod with Carrot Ginger Purée, Eggplant Purée & Asparagus drizzled with Veal Jus and I liked that dish better because the cod just melted in your mouth! The next time we go back to Bliss House I'd order that instead.
How can we leave Bliss House without some delicious desserts? No matter how full anyone is, there's always 別のバラ {separate stomachs} for delicious Warm Flourless Valrhona Chocolate Cake with Ice Cream & Berries, Homemade Tiramisu and Sticky Date Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce. All the desserts were beautifully presented and yet not too sickly sweet. A very blissful end to our sumptuous meal.

Bliss House is an excellent venue for those that want to hold garden parties, but are scared to because of Singapore's erratic weather. There's no fear of it raining down on your party here! If you need help planning for your special day, they also have customised party and wedding packages available.

Bliss House Theme Restaurant, The Central Clarke Quay
6 Eu Tong Seng Street #03-21A
Tel: 6225 5532
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BlissHouse.sg

* Disclosure: This restaurant review was due to an invitation from Bliss House. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

Bub & Me: P-P-Popcorn Baby!! Her First Movie Theatre Experience

2013-04-12T06:30:00.000+08:00

We all like to watch movies, even Lil Pumpkin. Most of the time, we'll snuggle in bed for lazy movie nights at home. Recently, the boy and I decided to be more adventurous and bring Lil Pumpkin out to the movies at a cinema to watch Oz the Great and Powerful. She saw the movie posters a few weeks back and was very interested to watch it.

It was not an easy decision. It's not like Lil Pumpkin can't sit still for 2 hours {she can if she wants to}, but that she's such a little chatterbox during movies! She's always asking questions like "what happened?", "why did she do that?", "is that a girl or boy?", "how come there's no light??" etc. or she will start singing random songs! It's most frustrating during climaxes, when she says something to kill the moment. Even the scariest movie loses its horror effect with her around haha.

Lil Pumpkin has been to live performances before, but watching a movie in a cinema is so different from that. Audience participation and cheering is usually encouraged during live performances, but people tend to like to enjoy their cinema movies in silence.You know.. people like me ;p

We decided to give it a try anyway. If she doesn't behave well, we'll just not bring her there until she's older. If she's all right, that means more chances to watch current movies for us! Yay! Our strategy for Operation Pumpkin at the Movies was simple - give her a huge bucket of popcorn to keep her quiet during the movie, or bring her out of the theatre for a short walk if she got too noisy.

Actually, we gave her TWO big buckets of popcorn (^^)V Look how happy she is! Don't be fooled by her tiny size, she can actually finish almost one bucket by herself.

We borrowed a booster seat so that she will be able to see the screen better. Unfortunately it's all plastic so I think it was quite uncomfortable for her. They should get those with cushions but I guess they will be more of a hassle to clean. Especially when kids eat popcorn or drink their sodas heh. Lil Pumpkin sat in it throughout the movie though and didn't ask to sit on our laps. There was quite a lot of space actually as we could lift up the arm rests. As expected, she started asking questions which we quickly answered and luckily, there were other kids in the cinema too who chattered.. so it wasn't like she was the only one talking in the cinema!

I'm rather pleased that she managed to understand the gist of the story. Witches, princesses, castles, magic all appeal to her very much so she was very engrossed in the movie. One funny part was when she suddenly shouted "jie jie" because she saw the subtitles and recognised the Chinese characters 姐姐 {older sister}! Looks like her Chinese enrichment classes are helping :)

Overall, Operation Pumpkin Goes to the Movies was quite a success! We saw the ad for the upcoming Ironman movie and Lil Pumpkin was quite excited about that too. She likes The Avengers as well so we will try to bring her for that if we can.

If you are also thinking of bringing your bub to the movies, Golden Village {GV} has Mums and Babies promotions for babies and kids below 90cm for family-friendly movies. Selected GV cinemas are designed to create an environment conducive for movie-going parents with babies and toddlers in tow which includes diaper tables, lower volume and some lights left on. Kids under aged 12 also get to watch movies free every day {except Public Holidays & eve of Public Holidays} at all GV cinemas with the purchase of 2 standard tickets. We didn't get this offer because we bought our tickets online. Check their website for more promotion details.

Have your brought your young kids to the movies yet? How was it?

INFINITY KOSÉ | Brightened & Whitened #KoseSingapore

2013-04-11T10:00:00.000+08:00

It's been 4 weeks since I started my INFINITY KOSÉ journey and so far, I'm pretty happy with the results. I mentioned before that my skin felt softer and more moisturized, and now I can see my skin is fairer and more even-toned.

I'm not sure if it's related, but when I went for my monthly facial last Saturday, my facial therapist did not spend as much time as she usually does extracting my blackheads or whiteheads! She also mentioned that my skin condition was not as dry as before *yay*

The photos here are all taken in natural morning sunlight, with no flash or filters. I'm not wearing any make-up at all too. Yes, I'm confident enough to go out and out with a bare face and not scare the living daylights out of anyone :p

The INFINITY KOSÉ range eradicates tough blemishes from the roots and help to get rid of dullness from all over the face to create beautifully fair, clear skin. The INFINITY KOSÉ Lotion XX and INFINITY KOSÉ Serum XX I used are for "surface" whitening to deliver the whitening ingredients to all corners of the skin and lock them in. If you want to eradicate specific blemishes, INFINITY KOSÉ Realizing White XX would be a better choice for "point" whitening.

I would still continue to use my INFINITY KOSÉ products after these 4 weeks since they work for me. Skin results vary but if you want to get your hands on them, take advantage of the INFINITY KOSÉ New Launch Promotions {until 30 Apr 2013}. More details in this post and let me know how it works for you!

* Disclosure: INFINITY KOSÉ products were provided by KOSÉ Singapore for the blogging campaign, thanks to omy.sg. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are my own. Promotions valid while stocks last.

Wordless Wednesday {linky party}: Joys of Parenting with Andy & Meng Choo | Week 15

2013-04-10T06:00:00.000+08:00

Andy & Meng Choo, parents to Boon Wee {10}, Boon Kang {8}, Boon Yee {6} and Boon Xin {4}

"I enjoy kids' times"

Every parenting experience is unique, and I'm trying to capture all the different joys it brings :)

If you wish to share your joy, please email me at sakuraharuka {at} live {dot} com.

This photo is part of the 52 Weeks Joys of Parenting Photography series.

*****

Note: Highlight the code & press Ctrl + C buttons to copy.

You are not able to just highlight and right click to copy any text on my blog.

Grab my button & place it in your post or sidebar, or text link back to my party.
Add me on Google Friend Connect or Facebook before you link up.
Come back every Wednesday!! :)

Live Many Lives through Reading

2013-04-09T06:30:00.000+08:00

We brought Lil Pumpkin to the Central Public Library near Bugis over the weekend to read and borrow some books. Did you know they have the largest Fiction collection amongst all the public libraries? Yeah, and they also have a nice children section but it's closed for renovation now until mid-2013. They are turning it into My Tree House, the world's first green library for kids. Kinda excited for this new change!

The current children's books and story-telling sessions are now next to the area near the outdoor garden.

Our public libraries have very interesting programs for the kids to enrich their learning experience and cultivate a love of reading for pleasure and knowledge. These include Raise-a-Reader Workshops for parents to create a supportive reading environment for a child & librarians to share tips on selecting books for them, Story-telling of favourite children books, and Fun with Tots sessions of rhymes, songs and stories for toddlers 1-3 years old. I think most of them are free :)

It really is such a blessing that Lil Pumpkin is growing up in country that strongly supports literacy and books are so easily available. Some of my friends run the local chapter for Room to Read, a global organisation to help fight poverty and illiteracy around the world, and its heartbreaking to learn from them that at this time and age, over 60 million primary school-aged children around the world still do not have access to education and most likely will never learn to read or write.

I love traveling to learn about different cultures and different experiences. I realise that I discover more about myself each time I travel too. Sometimes, I dream about being a nomad... to just wander and explore our big, vast world. It may stay just a dream {for now} but reading books does provide a good "substitute" for traveling and broadening our minds.

Like one of my favourite quotes says, "For one who reads, there is no limit to the number of lives that may be lived, for fiction, biography, and history offer an inexhaustible number of lives in many parts of the world, in all periods of time." Perhaps that's why I love reading and why I encourage Lil Pumpkin to foster this love too. Lil Pumpkin doesn't just have to be a little Asian girl living with her working parents in Singapore. She can be a little princess in England, a mermaid living under the sea, a dog that talks, a forest fairy, a patchwork elephant... her imagination is the limit.

If she can dream it, she can be it. I love that magical power that reading brings to her and am glad she is embracing that power! :) You should really listen to the stories she tells us sometimes.. pretty far-out!

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Some parents lament that their kids don't really like to read though, especially with iPads, computers and smartphones so accessible now. Such a shame because being able to sit down, relax and enjoy a good read is one of the best luxuries I find. Above are some tips to encourage them to read more, to let them explore with their minds. If you have any other tips, share them with me in the comments :)

I Blog on Tues with Essentially Jess. Do you like to bring your kids to the library?

P.S. Like Lil Pumpkin's cute Pink Polkadot dress? It comes in a set with a hat and bloomers, and is from Precious Junior, an online kidswear shop. For every item sold, a dollar will be donated to a charity so check it out and support!

* Disclosure: Pink Polkadot Dress set was provided by Precious Junior for blog mention. All other accessories belong to me and all opinions are my own.