Recycling for Good Cause

Whether it's self-driven or influenced, everyone's talking about going green nowadays. In hope of reducing my carboon footprint, besides using energy-saving light bulb, reusable shopping bag and travelling in public transport, I recycle materials as toys for Rynae too! I've always love mint chewy gums and after chomping them, there're hardy bottles that I thought could be put to better use than to fling them into rubbish bins. Rynae loves to add ingredients like salt and pepper into her 'soups' when she plays masak masak so I figured out that she could include these bottles into her 'kitchen cabinet'! As she is learning to read and recognise words now, I printed colour-coded ingredient name labels and stuck them onto the bottles so that hopefully she could identify the ingredients and use them appropriately! See? Learning need not be stressful. Children can pick up a wide range of skills and knowledge through play, in a non-threatening environment too.

Japanese Soft Clay

Mummy loves shopping in Daiso but its orientation is so cram and always full of patrons. Makes shopping a bit difficult sometimes. By sheer luck, I found some japanese soft clay there and bought 3 packs for Rynae to be played as Doh. These super-light weight clay becomes hard in natural dryness and is odourless, does not soil hands and easy to handle.

I've seen similar soft clay in Square 2 but it's selling at about $15 for just a handful of white clay. The sample models made from these clays were such sweetie pies that I wanted to buy it on impulse then. So you can guess how glad I was to have gotten hold of it at a cheaper price, coloured somemore. You've gota open your eyes big and search for them if you're interested to buy because they're chucked in a corner and the packaging looks like wet wipes! I opened up 2 colours - white and yellow for Rynae to test try. Straight away, she questioned me why it feels different this time.

She is still too young and hasn't acquired the motor skills to make realistic molds hence I helped her out. She suggested making egg, snowman and ice-cream. Surprised? So am I. Such creativity. I like the egg amongst all because the colours are just perfect!

Kungfu Family Reunion

We made it! We've got all 8 characters after gorging 8 happy meals for the past few weeks! Ya. Forget about the extra pounds. Let's rejoice with the full collection in hand! It's a pity Master Wugui (i.e. Oogway. What bad translation. Can't he remain as Wugui?) wasn't commemorated as a figurine. I don't mind exchanging the sleazy viper for him!

The ultimate 8 days movie junkie guide revealed that Sing to the Dawn, a local anime based on an award winning novel by Mingfong Ho is coming up next in October! Boy oh boy! This is so great! This is a story I love so much that I could remember the story vividly even though years had passed since I was last taught about it for literature in my secondary school days! Hip Hip Hooray!

Trip to Singapore Science Centre

I had planned to bring Rynae to the Singapore Science Centre during the school holidays but couldn't find an opportunity to. Before the holi season ends, we decided to bring her there on a (peak) Saturday afternoon. Both McDonalds and SSC were so packed that we had to spend precious time queuing for both food and tickets. SSC hasn't had much of a make-over from the last time I went during the SARS saga but they did have a new feature - the water works which is a scientific water theme interactive playground. Rynae fell ill the last time we went to IMM's water playground, hence we forbade her participation in it this time as the sun was up high then. The centre was hugh and after spending 3 hours inside, we still couldn't really finish all the exhibitions and experimentations. A pity though.

Left: Waterworks. Can you feel the noon heat?

Right: Pressing on a button to turn on the light so as to activate the solar powered discs.

Left: What's for dinner? Rynae's head!

Right: Da Vinci wanna-be scribbling on palm top similar drawing board.

McPlayPlace

I passed by Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West and was attracted by its seemingly fun McDonalds outlet and decided to pay it a visit one of these days. We were pretty lucky the day was cloudy because the walk from AMK MRT to the park was rather long. Cannot image walking under the scorching afternoon sun. The place was nicely done up with choice of air-conditioned or alfresco dining. Lunching there was very tranquil, felt like in a spa. With the lush surroundings and water features, may I suggest to corner up an area to make into treatment suits for massages! Talking about the playground, it looks more like a hamster cage than a playground to me. The whole play place, made up of 2 levels of tunnels is non-ventilated (I could smell a stench inside) and sweaty kids crawl in and out like cute little hamsters. Nobody's on guard at the play area so parents, please mind your own kids.

Zoori Weave Love

Mummy's always been big on handmade practicalities hence upon getting news of Zoori Weave Love workshop while reading Junior n U's June issue, I knew I had to sign up for it. At a reasonable price of $38, Mummy was taught how to plait her own pair of Zoori slippers (Japanese flat thonged sandals made of straw or leather that are worn only on special occasions as part of a formal kimono ensemble) with strips of cloth and while Mum's at the workshop, Rynae was kept occupied in Frisk 'n' Romp with all sorts of activities. Wonderful Daddy helped to keep an eye on the little musketeer. Some of the pictures attached herein were actually supplied by him. That's why to please him, the play experts there gave Rynae a Father's day card to colour, to be given to him!






It's a sin not to go to the East Coast Beach after travelling all the way there and the close proximity to the Beach hence we made a stop at the seaside. Rynae also rode on an electronically charged motorbike. It was daylight robbery. The 5 min ride costed us $2! That means in an hour, they can make $24!

Magical Day at Disney Naturally

It's heard of.. it's spoken of and now mum wants to see for herself the much talked about Disney Naturally - the mimic of Disneyland restaurant, located at Anchorpoint Shopping Centre. The eatery's not too big hence I reckon diners would have to wait to be seated during the peak hours. Good thing we went on a Monday. The staffs there were carefree but I wouldn't say their service was praise worthy. Nobody seated us when we waited at the door that has a sign 'Please wait to be seated'. I walked in myself eventually and got busy reading the menu thereafter. No attendant came to take order so I figured out that I actually have to go to the counter to order my meal. Can't complain because they don't charge service charge. The desserts, fruit blends, pizzas, burgers and pastas are all fascinatingly named and I ordered a Mickey's Classic (Pizza), Nemo's Adventure (Soup of the day) and Banana Moo Moo Milk Shake. Rynae sped to the computer terminal upon arrival and needless to say, hogged it while I took this opportunity to stuff the food into her mouth. What a magical afternoon.

Left: Striking a pose with Disney icons

Left: Restaurant facade

Right: Restaurant interior

Left and Right: Front and back menu

Left: Hacking Disney website

Right: Our lunch. Notice the shape of the pizza and the bread that accompanies the soup?

Kung Fu Fighter!

Panda Almightly! We heard about Breadtalk's Peace Panda and to add on to the panda craze, there's gonna be a plus-sized Kung Fu Panda movie! Upon getting news of the screening, Mummy is determined to bring Rynae to watch it. However, to enjoy the Cathay Mum 'n' Tots benefit, I have to walk in to purchase the tickets on the day itself. So, today, 6 June the debut day, I got up at 7.30am to check Cathay's online movie ticket website. I fell off my chair when I found out that the 10.30am, 11.30am and the 12.35pm seats were all fully booked. And so were many other timings! The weirdest thing is that I surfed their website the night before and it is near impossible that the tickets would be sold out completely in a few hours! With a grey light of hope, we proceeded with our plan to try to get hold of the tickets over the counter. Well, worse come to worse, if they're really sold out, we'll watch it another day!

It was the first thing in my life that I ever got to a ticket counter before it opens. In fact, we're so early that we've got time to go to Ya Kun prior, for a quick breakfast! At 10.15am, the shutter was lifted and together with me were crowds of early birds queueing for their preferred seat and time slot. I got my tickets (it's Rynae's 1st movie and she's going for the 1st screening on the 1st day) and Rynae got her pop-con. If I were to give my after-views of the movie, I'd say that the plot's ordinary but the animations' expressions were humourously, realistically human-like!

Last but not least, a word of wisdom for you internet savvy cosmopolitans... sometimes internet purchase might not give you the leading edge over the others. I've learnt mine. Hope you too.

Blocking

For quite sometime, I've planned to buy a set of Lego or Mega Blocks for Rynae but have not done so till todate. The pricy Legos aren't worth it and the Mega Blocks (as it is called) are too hugh and clumsy to construct anything realistic. Unintentionally while out for lunch one afternoon, I bought back a box of $5 blocks. As I cannot see the contents inside (product shot on the packaging cannot be trusted), I treated this buy as a gamble to win Rynae's favour. Awfully spendthrift, it's only $5 if she doesn't like it. Keke. Thankfully, the blocks turned out to be quite fun to play with. The creations are only limited by your own imagination! So.. just let your imagination run wild!

Einstein In The Making

Mummy felt that fables and fairy tales are like traditions passed down and forms part of a child's childhood hence by my little ways, I started introducing these famous stories one at a time. Recently, I bought a chinese book with 2 titles that came with a VCD at $3.50 only. On the front cover, it read 'the crow that drank water'. On the back cover, it read 'turtle and rabbit race'. After reading and playing the VCD numerous times to Rynae, I pondered if she really understands why the water level rises after stones are added, in the story of 'the crow that drank water'. Children at this age has zero concept of Science and the last thing I want is for her to memorise the effect. I'd rather she understands it, thereby remembering it. Quick-witted, I dug into my cupboard for an empty mineral water and took out some glass marbles to be used as 'stones', for her to physically try out. Right before her eyes, she saw the water level rises. I also reinforced the story by well... acting like the thristy crow and constantly making references to the story. Tough job!

Computer Lesson

It's the school holiday now and Mummy has gotten hold of 2 CD ROMs to keep the little monster entertained. The 2 titles are Blue's Room Preschool and Dr. Seuss Preschool. Rynae has watched Blue's Clue's DVD so I supposed she would be interested in its CD ROM too. But alas! Am I wrong to think so.. She couldn't stay on the programme long enough to complete all the checklist, which includes places around the neighbourhood to visit! I was with her throughout and deduced that her loss of interest was due to the retarded responses from Blue and other characters in the programme. Rynae had to wait till the cow comes home before an instruction or a reply came. On the contrary, Dr Seuss CD ROM was better but most of the basic letter recognition and counting exercises were a little easy going for her. Then again, she did have fun on the computer!

Kawaii Prezzies

Da Yi went to Japan recently and bought back some nice Gap clothes for Rynae. The flowery top is a little over-sized though and needs to wait for 1 to 2 years before the little one can put it on. However, the trousers fitted Rynae perfectly! I was wondering why I couldn't find such nice clothes in Singapore's Gap boutique. Can the local buyers do a better job and bring in nicer designs? I don't fancy the Gap ranges here!