How we celebrated SG51

I know. National Day was long gone. But i find it a need to pen down what we did this year as it was pretty eventful. It was a good long break for most of us and I thought I had better make full use of it. A week leading to the long weekend, I have been getting the kids engaged in various National Day activities. If you don't already know, I am a sucker for thematic stuff and will go all out to prep those materials. I would rather the kids be engaged in activities than to spend time in front of the television or other devices. So even if it means killing a whole lot of brain cells and sacrificing sleep, I will do it! Below are some of the activities we did which perhaps you could consider doing with your little ones next year?

Feeding the Merlion activity inspired by a certain Mama J

Various activities we did, including the bunting inspired by A Happy Mum

Look at what BreadTalk came up with to commemorate SG51? Nice isn't it? The kids loved it. Well, they loved mainly the pork floss and left me with the plain bread. -_-

Ever since we shifted back to our own place, several people have been asking to come over for meals. We love hosting but it's getting a tad tiring to do it every.single.weekend. But since it's the long weekend, I had no excuse but to host my immediate family who has been patiently waiting :) So sorry to keep you waiting, guys! I didn't want to cater coz i hate over catering. And secondly, some wanted to try my cooking. Thirdly, I'm overambitious and mad. So I bit the bullet and whipped up what i could for close to 20 pax! Insane isn't it?

Salted Egg Prawns

Fried Bee hoon (ok this one wasn't done by me. I bought it from a stall downstairs :P)

Air Fried Sio Bak. 

Curry Chicken. Been a while since I cooked this hence I felt it wasn't quite up to standard that day.

Fried stuffed tau pok. Recipe adapted from The Domestic Goddess Wannabe

My Famous Har Jiong Gai! A success but a pain to fry so many of them! Tried air frying but it wasn't good at all. The result this round was fantastic. So much so, mom and my aunt asked me for my recipe as well as the brand of wok i used! haha

Ahhh and for desserts we had Mao Shan Wang durians!! Durians were in season and they were good this round so we couldn't miss it for the world! 

The next day was National Day and we decided to arrange a playdate. Brought the kids out for some good fun at the pool. It was scorching hot though!

Am so in love with this shot of both father and daughter! So much love!

These two were riding, riding and riding!

After a good swim, we continued our physical activities! We were all out to exhaust the kids in hope that they will sleep well! The night ended with dinner at a friend's place. Her place had excellent view of the fireworks and I think it left a deep impression on the kids. 

All the events leading up to National Day made me feel very blessed. I am thankful to be born in this country I call home. Many think that the pasture is greener out there, however, I think that Singapore is still a great place to live in. No doubt the standard of living is escalating, but hey, that's life in most countries right? So, Happy Birthday Singapore! I am so proud to be a Singaporean and happy that I am living in this clean and peaceful city. 

What we did this Teacher's Day

This is getting crazy! It's September already? The last couple of months have been a whirlwind, what with shifting to our new crib and hosting parties every weekend; getting everyone readjusted; holidaying not once, but twice over a span of 2 months (which reminds me, I need to blog about that!), to scrambling to catch up with work and homeschooling! It's crazy I tell you and I am still trying to get things into full swing. However each time when I think I've succeeded at getting things into control, shit happens.

Oh well, I'm not here to rant, but to share with you what we have done for this Teacher's Day. I have been a private educator for the last two decades *horrors and sad to say, I have seen it all. The passion to celebrate teacher's day kindof stops right after you step into Secondary school. Ok, perhaps Secondary 1 is still fresh hence most would go back to their Primary school to visit their Chers. But, thereafter, the kids probably look forward to that day only because it is a holiday! Not saying they shouldn't, but well, I somehow feel that this day is loosing its meaning. In fact, sad to say, only the parents and those who were reminded by their parents, wished me a Happy Teacher's Day. I was showered with gifts no doubt, but they were all from the parents. Gone were the days where I had little ones making cards or flowers for me. The older ones were worse, no wishes and instead, made me do overtime via watsapp. -_-

Hey! Didn't I say I wasn't gonna rant?

In order to ensure that Big K understands the significance of this day, I involve her in making gifts for her teachers. Since she loves art and craft, I got her these to put together for her teachers. We started a month before as I knew it would be crazy for her to finish them all within a week. I wouldn't have the time to supervise too. It was nice to see how each pot blossomed. She painted those pots and fixed up most of those flowers. I only helped with the more intricate ones as well as flower arrangement.

Thankful for pre-cuts! I wouldn't have been able to cut them one by one!

Flower paradise!

These lovely calligraphy cards were generously shared by Daprayer. I adore her works! 

To all educators and ex educators, your dedication is amazing so here's to you A-Meh-Zing people, 

HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY!

Review: The bigger and better Agape Babies + Discount Code

If you don't already know, I am pretty well-known for shopping online. This is especially important for mommies like me who are pretty much stuck at work which has crazy hours or with the kids and have hardly any time to shop at the brick and mortars. For the last couple of months, I have been trying to curb this obsession. Mainly because we were staying with the in-laws and I didn't want to appear to be a spendthrift. However, it was tough. It's tough enough to have 7 people squeezed in a tiny space, and it's tougher to detox from my favourite hobby. I needed my sanity to be in check. Parcels over parcels came and soon, even my mother-in-law was getting me to give her advice on online shopping! She recognised that there were certain items where we could get cheaper online and it is so convenient as it was just a click of the mouse!

So I was browsing for a pair of food scissors for my little ones. It has been bugging me that we couldn't even make a 5minute trip to the nearest mall to get a pair of scissors due to our tight working schedules. A quick search and I realised that Agape Babies now carry my favourite brand 3M! And , they had the 3M Scotch portable food scissors which I had been wanting to get! This was my first pair of scissors which unfortunately got confiscated during one of our trips as the husband had forgotten to take it out from our handcarry and it was taken away from us during customs check. Since then, I had purchased some other brands which unfortunately rusted after a few months. I was reluctant to get 3M again. Firstly because I couldn't quite find it in the malls nearby and secondly, when I do find it, it is expensive -- Approximately $15! So when I found that it was going for only $12.50 on Agape Babies, I had to grab!

A quick browse and I realised that Agape has increased its product range. Namely, it has included the current IT bag for mommies -- Jujube! If you haven't check that out, please do as they are having a promotion currently. They have over 200 items under Jujube! Totally exhilarating when you browse the catalogue! The designs are so attractive, I am trying to find an excuse to add it to my collection! It makes diaper bags a whole lot more sleek and organised. 

They have approximately 296 items under Jujube

Their product selection has increased and apart from hot brands like Jujube and 3M, they now carry over 250 brands and 6000 products over 10 categories! Plus, look out for their weekly deals every Wednesday! 

Now, if you are a first time customer, you can choose between two free gifts - Mustela Trial Kit (worth $10) or Bellamy Milk Tin ($25.95)!  And these together with all your other purchases will be delivered to your abode in a jiffy! Speaking of delivery, I had excellent experience with Agape. I ordered some items in the wee hours of the night, and the next day, an email was sent to me informing me that items are being prepared for shipping! Before I knew it, the parcel was right by my door step within 3 working days! This could be a life saver if you need that tin of Bellamy's pronto! I knew I had to rely on such efficiency when Big K was on Bellamy's when she was below 2yo. Being an advocate of breastfeeding, I am also very happy to see Agape Babies house brands like Freemies, Medela, Spectra and Unimom. In addition, they also sell Feenugreek (a supplement which was a lifesaver during my breastfeeding days) and is priced reasonably cheaper than at retail outlets. 

And before you think that it is a site only for moms, hang on! The kids are in for a treat too under their Toys section! They house over 500 items under their Toys category. Amongst them are popular brands like Disney, Skiphop, Melissa & Doug, Y-volution, Parklon, Trunki and many more. I couldn't resist but to pick up a couple of items for the kids. If you need to get that last minute birthday present for a little one, this is the site to go! And if you can't wait, there is self-collection option at 3 convenient locations -- Newton, Sengkang and Old Airport Road. Smaller parcels enjoy 72 pickup locations! Details here.

The entire shopping experience was great as it was smooth and more importantly I was browsing everything via mobile. It is now mobile optimised such that it feels like an app. One can also enjoy the one-step checkout and one-click sign! I love that! I detest it when you are near the finishing line and trying to checkout but the site needs you to fill in a 101 pages before transporting you to the payment page!

PROMOTION FOR READERS

Right now, I have a great deal for you! For my readers only, you are entitled a 5% discount! Just quote: mmm5%. This promo is valid for only 3 weeks (10 Aug - 31 Aug) and excludes Jujube items, milk, diapers, wipes, medela breast pumps, sale and clearance categories.

Don't forget to follow Agape Babies on Facebook or on Instagram (@agapebabies) for giveaways and updates on promotions!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Disclaimer*I was gifted shopping credits from Agape Babies to purchase some of the items featured. Any excess sum was paid out of my own pocket. No additional monetary compensation has been received and I do not stand to gain any commission arising from sales using the discount code given to my readers. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and written according to my experience in using the products/services. 

Heguru, a right brain experience

People who know me well enough, would know that I am an advocate of right-brain training. Way before when i was pregnant with Big K, I had already been reading up. Big K attended a certain famous centre in Singapore briefly but I wasn't too impressed with the school. For one, the teachers were trained locally and it was a sit on chair, behind tables kindof setting. Aren't kids suppose to be unrestraint to a certain extent? Then life got a little tricky and I was blessed with a second pregnancy. It was very challenging for me to bring K to lessons every week with a big tummy. What's more, I spent half the lesson chasing her, getting her to sit on her chair instead of climbing onto tables. The teachers explained that even though they may be running about, they are still absorbing. And, sometimes, it could be that they find the activities boring as they already know. Regardless of the reason, it was becoming a chore to sit through and also pai seh (embarrassing) for me as all the rest of the kids seemed to be able to sit still 90% of the time! Once Big K started to move around, the rest would follow! *slaps forehead. The strange thing was, Big K isn't a hyper active girl. So I'd like to think that she knew everything or was absorbing as she monkeyed around.

So after I had given birth to Small K and got readjusted to things, I decided to embark on the right-brain journey for him as well. This time, I did more research and chose Heguru. Heguru is a renowned right brain development school in Japan with more than 30 years of extensive research. Heguru has proven to be an effective early childhood education programme which focuses on developing your child's creativity and critical thinking through effective use of images, sounds, rhythms, movement and lighting. Yes, movement was the bit which attracted me! No more sitting on chairs and tables! And, Small K being a boy, naturally I am inclined to think that he would be more active than the sister. Hence Heguru was my choice as it has a good balance of physical as well as discipline. 

We are currently attending the toddler class at Citysquare mall, which spans across 50 minutes. They have classes all the way to Primary levels. The branch we patronise is strategically located in a mall. I love the location as there are several amenities under one roof! I could have a bit of shopping rendezvous after class at Daiso without feeling guilty; bring Small K to Toys r Us for some free 

stimulation; or do some grocery shopping at the huge NTUC or the newly opened SONG FISH. 

There is endless perks for the mommy on the retail front basically. Ok, that apart, on a more serious note, I am impressed by how passionate the teachers are over at this place. Oh, did I mention, their teachers all have to be trained and sit for different levelled exams in Japan? Every year, the teachers are sent to Japan for training. That definitely sounds like they are serious about educating the next generation!

Heguru education has 5 purposes:

1. Enlarging "vessel" for the brain.
2. Drawing out multiple talents from the children's personalities. 
3. Giving children self-confidence and exploiting potential hence developing the love for learning. 
4. To cultivate the power of the mind (EQ)
5. Cultivation of genuine thinking power. 

Our brain is split into two sections: the right and left. Left brain is of linguistic function which  I believe most kids wouldn't have any problems as we talk to them all the time plus once they enter school, left brain activities are predominant. The left brain deals with single pieces of data one by one at a low speed, understanding them little by little using words and processing them in actual consciousness. Hmmm..that doesn't sound like it was going to do a child who is in the rat race any good! I mean, low speed? Seriously? The right brain on the other hand, is sometimes known as the image brain. It automatically processes at a high speed, large amounts of data by using potential consciousness.  Automatic. Now, that, I like! It is especially important to develop both sides to the fullest extent. The brain grows at its fastest when one is young. After age 3, the development of the right brain decreases and stagnate at around 6. This is when most Singaporean children enter Primary school and will see their left brain activities escalating. The best time to expand the brain capacity of children is from age 0 up to 6yo. At Heguru, lessons focus mainly on inputting. Through various activities like linking memory, peg memory, super flash cards, rhythms, ESP, Nummerkasten and many more, the child will be receiving various stimulations to stretch his brain. Some may find that ridiculous, but I am really hoping that it will make K's learning journey in future a little easier with the encyclopaedic information I am trying to input into him at this moment. It really isn't about what he is able to remember at this moment but more of how he is able to find it familiar in future subconsciously and hence develop a greater learning interest. Already, I am seeing the output. I have severely neglected this boy on the learning front. I mean, coping with two without a helper plus working full time and running a business isn't quite a breeze. So, when he could recite his ABCs as well as recite the Tang Dynasty Poems before the age of 2, I was impressed! Particularly since my Chinese isn't quite fabulous and half of the poems he recited sounded alien to me! So well done, my boy! 

Here is Small K at 22mo, reciting the Tang poems! #proudmamamoment

Look how happy he is! Every week when I asked if he would like to go for his Heguru lessons, he would always be beaming from ear to ear and giving me an excited YES!

Should you be interested in learning more about this programme, feel free to drop me a note or approach the friendly teachers at Citysquare mall. They will be able to do a consultation and give you some insight to the class. In my next instalment, I will be sharing with you some of the activities that are conducted in Heguru, so stay tune!

Follow Heguru Citysquare mall on Facebook or check out their website for more details!

Imaginarium 2016 at SAM

I can't believe how time flies! I thought we visited Imaginarium just last year and it's back again! This year is flying too quickly. Does that happen when a person ages?

This year's theme is "Over the Ocean, Under the Sea". It is the sixth edition of SAM's children-focused annual exhibition. This time round, we delve into the deep and are invited into the watery realms of the Earth as seen through the eyes of contemporary artist. Over the Ocean, Under the Sea presents tactile and interactive works that encourage discovery through exploration and play. 

This installation is so meaningful. No doubt it is just a bunch of plastics, but it gave me the opportunity to explain to Big K how important it is to recycle and not be using too much of these non-biodegradable materials. 

We navigated into another room and made the acquaintance of mysterious denizens of the deep. This room features works of Krit Ngamsom. His kinetic sculptures are tongue-in-cheek references to iconic artworks that changed definitions and assumptions about art through their use of ready made objects. The fountain on top of the whale for example is made of tiny urinals! I wouldn't have noticed it if I didn't read the description. Issues concerning the oceans is also covered in this room. I asked Big K how would she feel if she was like the shark trapped in a glass tank and it made her ponder. 

In this next room, we discovered ADA. ADA is an interactive art-making machine. It is an installation with PVC balloons, helium and charcoal. This "creature" glows with the bioluminescence of denizens of the deep. The giant sphere has charcoal studs affixed to her surface and it makes great interactive fun for the kids. The number of people entering is limited each time, so you don't have to worry about your child being crushed by the ball. 

Where is Mogus? Mogus is an imaginary octopus monster, which is artist Mulyana's alter ego. The various corals and sea creatures were laboriously crocheted from yarn. It's really a wonderful sight which invites the young to frolic amidst the whimsical sea monsters. The artist hopes to encourage play, imagination and exploration and my kids sure did all three!

My favourite room has got to be the Underwater Labyrinth as it is constructed by none other than me! Janice Wong! No la, we just happen to have the same name and surname but hey, i noticed, people with this name seem to have something in common -- artistic! or so I'd like to think that I have that in me! :P 

This installation is created with isolate, chocolate, LEDs and acrylic stands. The colonies of corals which encrust the sides pf the gallery are meticulously crafted. Sparkling in the day and luminescent at night, artist-chef Janice Wong's Underwater Labyrinth invites visitors to discover the wonders of a re-created deep-seabed. Wish I could get my hands on those marshmallows!

The Submaroom is probably Big K's favourite as she got to learn how to create various types of sea creatures using Origami. There are two tables with instructions on them and pieces of paper to entice the little ones to do a little folding. No one is there to guide them however so that probably explains why it is not a popular room when we went. 

The Imaginarium is held at SAM at 8Q till 28 August 2016. If you'd like to have some respite from the afternoon sun and at the same time find a fun way to discuss about the how the oceans and seas are susceptible to abuse and degradation, this is the place to head to!

SAM is located at 71 Bras Basah Road and you would probably need to park at nearby carparks along Queen Street, NTUC Income Centre, Manulife Centre, Hotel Grand Pacific or Singapore Management University. It is also a short 2-minute walk from Bras Basah MRT station. 

Opening hours:

MOndays to Sundays 10am to 7pm

(Last admission at 6:15pm

Fridays 10am to 9pm