Molly Anniversary Statues POP-Up Store

Sometimes I do feel we are very lucky to be based from Singapore because it is so happening. If you are a fan of Molly, you will be going wild to hear about the Molly Anniversary Statues POP-Up Store. This is Molly’s first-of-its-kind Anniversary Statues-themed pop-up store globally. Apart from thematic displays, there is a range of merchandise for sales ranging from scented candle blind boxes, fridge magnets etc. 

There are 8 exclusive Molly merchandise items that are only available at this Pop-up store. If you hit a minimum spend, you will also receive Singapore-exclusive Molly-themed gifts, such as folders, fans, postcards, and tote bags. You may call me a sucker but these are usually the things that entice me haha to spend more. :P

In addition, there are also interesting fringe activities such as photo opportunities, silk-screen painting and Molly Fun Stamping. For the photo booth, would suggest not including more than 2 people cos it was really hard to capture all 3 of us. haha. For the silk-screen painting, just be ready to get your hands dirty. It is not the easiest to print the perfect piece (please ask the person to help if you are a perfectionist), but it was an one-in-a-million experience and the kids had fun trying. 

Personally, for fans this is a must-go. But if you are not a fan, this is a good opportunity to understand the fandom and soak in the atmosphere. Molly Anniversary Statues POP-Up Store is located at CapitaLand’s Bugis Junction Level 1 Malay Street, which is a convenient location for anyone to pop by. This will run from 27 August to 22 September 2024.

Because you read to the end, here's some fun facts about Molly:

Molly is the creation of artist Kenny Wong and first appeared in 2006. She has big lake-blue eyes, pouty mouth. Molly embodies the spirit of creativity and individuality. Her charming, stubborn personality and ever-changing appearances have captivated fans worldwide, making her a staple in the world of collectible art toys and also a cultural icon. Serious, whoever does not know Molly probably live under the rock...LOL

Pop Toy Show 2024

By now, I am sure you guys already know how much a fan I am over toys and collectibles. This is my first time to the Pop Toy Show so it was a pretty exciting experience. Compared to Singapore Comic Con (you can read about my experience here), this is definitely more toddler-friendly. There were good spaces between each booth so I could navigate my stroller. Also, it was not as noisy. There was only one stage and the sounds from the stage didn't seem to blare everywhere. 

There were also a lot of giant pop-ups for us to take photos with. This time round, I brought my toddler along (it is a first for me) and I was happy to see that he enjoyed himself fully. For parents like me who wants to slowly share our interest/ hobbies with our kids, the Pop Toy Show can be a good starting point because it is free for children under 7 years old. 

There is some repetition with Singapore Comic Con, but this one is more focused on blind boxes. Also, perhaps because of Pop Mart origins, I noticed there were alot more Chinese/ Taiwanese vendors. Not a bad thing because they hit me hard based on my personal toy design preferences. The  familiar brands such as Toys"r"us, Precious Thoughts etc. were also there and I ended up grabbing a few items from them because the promotion prices / freebies thrown in were out of this world. (I know because I have been monitoring the items I wanted for really long.)

In terms of toy trends, I have to say "ugly" is the new in. (P.S. I am not a fan of Labubu.) But I do see variations of similar style. My kid however is totally in awe with these new designs. I got snubbed when I asked if he wanted any Pokemons. For people around my age group, you will be glad to know that a booth was selling reasonably priced Pokemon figurines. :P

In terms of the tickets, there is the standard ticket and the premium tickets. If you are a "look look see see" person like me, I would suggest getting the early bird standard tickets at $28 each. Bring a kid and it is $14 per pax. Super value for money. Plus MBS is a really great location because there is so much family friendly activities which you can pursue after.

For collectors, I would suggest to go straight for the premium tickets which grant you 3 days access. You get 2 hours early entry and premium access to exclusive drops, artist zones and can even go back with a limited edition goodie bag. I heard from other goers that the goodie bag is good. Overall, I would rate this as a super enjoyable experience. If you like blind boxes and plushies more than the display figurines, this is the place to be!

Food Tour 48 - Gems we found

Getting a bit hurt when people have been commenting I put on weight, but I guess that is my own doing since I am the one that is always munching non-stop. Here's some good food I found at the CBD area, before I decide to diet and stop eating good food

1. Milkfish

If you enjoy fish soup, this is one of the must-go places. The soup is organic, without additional flavourings and the sides are delicious. Most importantly, the food served is nutritious and also very suitable for the kids. I like to go for the set meals because they are more value for money too. You can even order their fish soup broth if you would to make cook your own meals at home. Do give them a visit, I am sure you will be a converted fan like me!

2. Omote

Extremely frivolous, we were attracted to it because it had a cute polar bear for a mascot. Also, we didn't have time to queue for Koji. Best decision ever, cos the food was really good. The menu is huge (which sometimes means the restaurant serve sub-par food due to the lack of variety, but it wasn't the case for this) so there is good variety if you are looking for dining options for a huge group of picky eaters. 

The design and the name is not intuitive Jap. But their ramen, dons were delicious and adequately priced. I had such a good meal, I will definitely be sharing this place with my group of friends.

3. Kenangan Coffee

This is the best coffee ever. If I am not wrong, it helms from Indonesia. I know some people are not fans of this brand, but I love it. I have brought a few friends there and they agreed the coffee is good. You can pick your own beans and customise your brew. Not an expert in the type of beans yet, but their latte and flavoured coffee drinks are divine. Please try it, I think it is cheaper and tastier than Starbucks. Because people still haven't realised how nice their brew is, there is always seats too!

Try these places out. Enjoy!

National Day: More Personality Test

In view of National Day (and because I am somewhat patriotic), here is a rather fun personality test. I thought the content was pretty interesting and took into good account of our history and symbols. Plus, I really love ice-cream. The result is also pretty accurate. Quite worth taking. So, please enjoy! Here's the link. I am a badass Chocolate by the way. 

Things to do in Desaru

Funny story, I went to Desaru twice in a month. So I am pretty sure I have explored quite a lot of terrains there and have shortlisted the more worthy places to share with you guys. 

Best Hotels

1. Four Points By Sheraton Desaru (~S$100 per night)

This was where we stayed and I loved it. It was right smack in its town and was close to a lot of amenities such a supermarket, shopping centre (didn't have time to explore) and pharmacist. Bringing 2 kids, this really matters to me because if I need to stock up on diapers etc., I have a place to go to right outside my hotel. Also, I sprained my back during my stay and I was so glad there was a pharmacist I could go to. 

The room we picked was the Premium Twin Room, 2 Double Beds, Balcony, which was very spacious. I know I am starting to sound like a broken record on space. But when you have strollers and tons of kids stuff like floats etc. space is vital. There was a playground within the vicinity and the pool had a shallow end for the toddlers! Also, we had free shuttle bus rides to  the beach and Adventure Park!

2. Hard Rock Hotel Desaru (~S$200 per night)

Using our free shuttle bus rides, we ventured to Hard Rock Hotel. Initially, our intent was to visit the Kids Club. But the programme for the day seems meh. So the kids ended up playing at the complimentary splash zone. Although we didn't pick this hotel, I thought it was a decent choice as well given the number of families there. It was right beside the Adventure Waterpark. There was a playground, an active lawn, kids club, splashzone etc. all within the vicinity. 

It seems to attract more Caucasians. Would probably give it a try in future, just that price point, it seems to be less value for money. 

 Best Seafood Restaurant

You Kee Seafood Restaurant

Generally, many people rave about the seafood at Desaru. We ate at a few places, and the initial thoughts was that it was really cheap but not super fantastic. Some of the places which had "high positive reviews" were incentivised review. But this place - You Kee Seafood, was super impressive. It is quite out of place and rather dilapidated. The butter lobsters were super delicious and was something we probably couldn't find in Singapore. 

There were good food options for the kids - tofu and the kids had an up-close experience with the lobster. Writing about this place because this is one restaurant I felt it was worth going out of the way for. 

Best Activities

1. Desaru Fruit Farm

If you have small kids who are into petting animals, this is a one-stop place for all these needs. The package comes with a visit into their plantation. I went on a separate tour and it was quite an enriching journey (suitable for older kids - maybe who is primary school). There are also ATV rides there for the teenagers and adults. Fruits are sold there and you should really buy them because they are super juicy and reasonably priced. 

When I went with the kids, there was a power shortage and it was raining cats and dogs. We decided to visit the paid petting arena outside instead so that the kids would not be disappointed. Personally I don't think it is as worth it because within the plantation, there is an animal feeding zone too that consists of goats, cows and even camels. The paid petting arena contains more exotic animals such as llamas, racoons etc. And not all animals can be fed/ petted. 

2. Adventure Waterpark

If your kids are older, this is the place that would probably entertain them the whole day. My kids were pretty young so we didn't opt to go in. I spotted lots of family and young couple enjoying a fun day out there!

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" for 5% Discount For All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

JB Cat Cafe: Chucky Cat Cafe

A while back, we made our trip to JB. One of things we are looking out for was for kid-friendly pets cafe because my kids really loved animals. Based on my humble research, Chunky Cat Cafe was the only pet cafe located within a shopping mall. Fortunately for us, this cafe was right smack beside our hotel. (We happened to stay at Holiday Inn.) So, we managed to save the Grab fees too. 

We got our tickets from Klook. You could probably get your tickets on the spot (with a lot more different package option). But if you want to be cash-free and accumulate credit card points and also use vouchers, the deal was better on Klook. The kitties were so clean and well kept. 

Generally, the kittens were also very gentle (despite how pushy my littlest one could be). The wilder ones had collars with bells, so I made sure our girl avoided them. She is not rough per-say but we were scared she could not manage her strength. Our only initial problem was that the felines were so reserved. After 15 mins in getting all the pets he wanted, my older one got bored. 

So I thought to get them some beverage/ ice cream. It was only then when I noticed they sold cat tidbits (RM5 each). It is quite a game changer. The cats flocked towards them and they started to enjoy the close proximity with the cats. Also, it helped the cats to start trusting these shorter humans. Tip: Please spend on the cat food! These cats are really realistic. No food, No honey!

We ended up buying 2 servings for each kid. The kids had lots of fun (so did I) and I also managed to capture a lot of good photos (to send to the relatives). Overall damage is less than S$100 for sure. I bought drinks and ice-cream too! The kids didn't stay longer than an hour because they were slightly hungry for their late lunch. I don't think I could have stayed the whole day with the kids. 

For the hotel, we came in a huge group so we took the suite at Holiday Inn. I think it could stay up to 5 adults. It was insanely spacious and the kids enjoyed just jumping around. Most importantly, it was super convenient to everything. We barely even needed to move out via Grab. The only problem was that the swimming pool was not very kids-friendly. But hey, we came prepared and brought our own floats. HAHAH

Just so you can get the best bang for the bucks, you can use the discount code below :)

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" for 5% Discount For All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.