Saturday, October 31, 2015

Adam's K2 graduation concert.

Today, our K2-er graduated from Kindergarten.
This will most likely be the last time we set foot in Changi Bethany School House, a spacious and nurturing preschool which Adam enjoyed attending for the last 3 years.
 
We went around the school compound a last time.
changi bethany school house kindergarten singapore
The huge kindergarten compound with its playground


changi bethany school house kindergarten
and a vegetable garden with seats under the shade of a Mango tree.

The vegetables are flourishing



changi bethany school house kindergarten singapore
Ashton said his favourite are eggplants.





pink jujube bff ju ju be hello kitty lucky stars Singapore mom blogger
Rocking pink today with my rockstud pumps, a present from Hubby to match my pink B.

 

jujube bff ju ju be Singapore Hello kitty lucky stars diaper bag mom blogger
My Jujube Hello Kitty Lucky Stars BFF diaper bag.
This bag is the BFF for all mothers!

The kinda studs in my life.

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Time's up for us to head upstairs for the graduation and year-end concert.

We managed to get the first few pews to get a better look of Adam!


Adam Tan tian kai graduate K2 changi bethany school house kindergarten
Seeing our firstborn in his convocation gown is surreal.
I am overcome with sadness, pride, happiness, anxiety, all at the same time!
I cannot believe I have been a mother for 6 years now.
 


Adam Tan tian Kai graduation convocation concert Changi bethany kindergarten
My last time cheering for him from these pews.




Changi bethany school house kindergarten mrs charis ang
Groupie with Adam's Chinese teachers and Vice-principal Mrs Charis Ang.
Thank you Changi Bethany School House for helping me raise my Adam into a confident and happy child.
It is my hope that he will continue to grow and serve in God's ways.
We pray that he will enjoy learning in a new environment next year, but never forget to be young at heart and have fun.
 
 

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Home gardening: growing your own vegetables.

 When I am not surfing the internet reading fashion blogs and fellow mummy-blogs, I am occupying my time with another hobby - gardening.
With our huge balcony, I realized I could actually do a lot of gardening in it.
 
I think I picked up my green fingers from my Dad and Aunt (his younger sister who lives with my family). I have recollections of my childhood watching my Dad grow African violets and other plants, but my Mum would complain that they were "messy" and threw them away ;(
 
Luckily for me, Andy shares the same sentiments about gardening as I do.
Thank God for a man who loves nature and animals as much as I do.
My interest is in planting edible food.
Upcycling an unwanted Styrofoam box into a planter.
I drilled holes at the bottom, laid some gauze and wood chips to prevent soil from falling out.
 
After a week of growing capsicum seeds, the stronger seedlings are ready to be transferred to the Styrofoam planter.
Egg cartons are the best, BEST seed starters.
 
 
Capsicum seedlings home upgrade.



Earthworms are your plants' best friends.
When earthworms are in your soil, it can only mean you are doing it right - pure, fertile soil free of chemicals.
When I was little, I used to keep earthworms in mason jars as pets!
I would scoop them off the sidewalk on rainy days. #imweirdlikethat
 
 
Besides Styrofoam boxes, you can upcycle wooden pallets (far left) and wine crates too!

Our Okra, or better known as Ladies fingers.


4 ladies fingers make one serving.

Stir-fried sambal belachan Okra with minced chicken and anchovies.
My helper said it was sedap :)





Monday, October 19, 2015

{Haze go where} Free indoor playground in Paragon Shopping Centre.

Every month, I have to go for my braces appointment at Dr Alfred Cheng's clinic (Mt Elizabeth), so what I usually do is, I bring my kids with my helper over to the free playground at Paragon Level 5 before popping opposite to Mt E for my appointment.
 
The top level of Paragon is the coveted shopping mecca for fashionista Mummy and baby wannabes.

Known as the Paragon Junior, this indoor playground has slides, tunnels and stuff for your kids to climb on.
Next to Paragon Junior are rides which they can go on for token fees.

For a free play area, it is quite neatly done up, even with a shoe shelf for your kids to place their footwear.

The playground is meant for children 2 - 6 years old, and open daily from 10am to 9pm.
Adult supervision is required at all times please.

Children mountain children sea.


The rides next to Paragon Junior playground.
Strangely enough, it is always crowded whenever we come here on Friday afternoons.
Why so many people no need to work??? I jealous!


Saturday, October 17, 2015

{sponsored} LipHop *NEW* Sunscreen series for adults and children.

Let's be honest, finding the perfect sunscreen isn't easy.
From the very expensive ones right down to your drugstore brands, some leave you with a white film on your face, some leave your face looking like a grease-pan without you even sweating.
I've tried numerous - from Shu Uemura to Nivea, and STILL I am constantly on the lookout for THE ONE.
The one that won't leave my face sticky and oily, the one that won't burn a hole in my pocket, the one with the right SPF index and all.
When will my perfect one appear?
 
I was invited to LipHop's media launch, but because I could not attend it, the fabulous girls from LipHop team couriered over their complete new range of LipHop sunscreen and sun care products to me!
I'm stoked!
 
Let's see what we have here:
Liphop sunscreen, sun protection, sun care products sponsored review Singapore blogger Mumzilla Veron Zhen

Hypoallergenic formula at SPF50 PA+++ specially made for KIDS, SGD$9.90.
Water and sweat-resistant makes it the perfect companion for swim lessons and outdoors fun.
If you have kids like mine, you know that the great outdoors is inevitable and they DO sweat A. LOT.
It is so thoughtful of LipHop because now I can say "bye bye" to their previous brand which is thick and sticky.
I want my children to smell like summer, not chlorine, thanks.

SPF80 Pa+++ Ultra-whitening sun protection lotion which contains *Melavoid, SGD$12.90.

* Melavoid™ is a natural, lightening active ingredient that decreases skin tone evenly and uniformly, thus reducing the number of different types of hyperpigmentation spots. 

SPF115 PA+++ Super Defence EX Sun Protection milk, SGD$12.90, for double protection for those of you active and sporty ladies.
I'm neither sporty nor active, I can't run to save my life, and the last time I climbed stairs or swam was ... I cannot remember already.
But I will use this when I need to be out in the sun with my children doing their childreny activities which unfortunately often involves some sun.

SPF50 PA+++ Lightweight sun protection spray, SGD$12.90.
Unique, non-sticky formula gives it a powdery finish.

After sun exposure, treat your skin to some thirst-quenching with this 100% Aloe Vera after sun gel, SGD$7.90.


Liphop ultra-whitening sun protection lotion singapore blogger
I tried the LipHop SPF80 PA+++ sunscreen as I intend to replace my Nivea for my everyday sunblock.

Let's see this lotion work it...

Liphop ultra-whitening sun protection lotion Singapore blogger


Photo not edited for imperfections, facial tone an flaws left as is.


Liphop sun protection lotion Singapore bloggers
The white lotion is light and absorbs into skin immediately, leaving no whitish film or shiny sheen on my face.
It has passed my skin absorbency and after-cast colour test with flying colours :D
Love it!

Now I shall let my children be the guinea pigs :P
Let's do some outdoors activities.

 LipHop Kids Hypoallergenic SPF50 PA+++ Sun protection lotion.

Liphop kids hypoallergenic sun protection lotion Singapore blogger sg kids, SMB

 Only the tested arm has sunblock. No sticky and white residue.

Letting the kids go scoot-free! #lame

I'm quite the drugstore girl - drugstore brands work great and cost so much lesser than their designer counterparts.
I use KATE face powders and Canmake eyebrow pencil, Canmake blusher palette etc as I really love browsing the beauty and makeup products all at once in drugstores.
Right now, I will add LipHop as my other drugstore must-have item!

LipHop sunscreen and sun care products are available at your nearest Guardian Pharmacy.
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Sunscreen FAQs
Is high-SPF (sun protection factor) sunscreen better than a low-spf one?
Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97 percent of the sun’s rays. Higher-number SPFs block slightly more of the sun’s rays, but no sunscreen can block 100 percent of the sun’s rays.
Currently, there is not any scientific evidence that indicates using a sunscreen with an SPF higher than 50 can protect you better than a sunscreen with an SPF of 50.
It is also important to remember that high-number SPFs last the same amount of time as low-number SPFs. A high-number SPF does not allow you to spend additional  time outdoors without reapplication. All sunscreens should be applied approximately every two hours

Are spray sunscreens safe?
The challenge in using spray sunscreens is that it is difficult to know if you have used enough to cover all sun-exposed areas of the body, which may result in inadequate coverage.
Never spray sunscreen around or near the face or mouth. Spraying adequate amounts of the sunscreen into your hands and then applying the sunscreen can help you avoid the fumes while also ensuring adequate coverage. When applying spray sunscreens on children, be aware of the direction of the wind to avoid inhalation.

How can I protect my baby or toddler from the sun?
Sunscreen use should be avoided if possible in babies younger than 6 months.
Ideally, parents should avoid exposing babies younger than 6 months to the sun’s rays.
The best way to protect infants from the sun is to keep them in the shade as much as possible, in addition to dressing them in long sleeves, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
Make sure they do not get overheated and that they drink plenty of fluids. If your baby is fussy, is crying excessively or has redness on any exposed skin, take him or her indoors.
 
For the rest of Sunscreen FAQs, please go to American Academy of Dermatology for more information.


P.S. all photos taken with the new Olympus OM-D E-M10Mark II, which is currently on loan to me for review purposes. Hope to post a justified review of the camera soon!