Accidental Face of Golden Moments

Thought this was pretty funny, so apparently I am in part of the self-made advert by Golden Moments. Friends and family who go to their store and bother to watch the looping advert would joke that I made in big and is now "screening". I was only there once and to be frank, I don't even know when they were filming. Good thing, I still kinda look alright and is tagged to the word "Honest". 

I am not paid for this gig (boo!), is this even a breech of PDPA? Lol. Kidding, if you are ever at their store, tell them I brought you there ok? Maybe I will get a dollar or 2 or free durians to giveaway. Just a post for the memories. :P

Keppel Centre for Art Education - Free for Families

We have walked past this a few times and every time it seems really packed so we never got a chance to enter. We finally made our way in and this is such a perfect place for families. First of all, it is free! Within the City Hall district, this is one of the 2 free kids museum I know of - the other being Children's Museum (you can read our reviews here!)

In comparison, I found the activities here a lot more art-driven and had some hands-on activities that spur creativity. As one of kid is more into crafts etc., he had a wonderful time exploring. If we didn't come at a really odd time between the 2 slots, I think they would have stayed up to 3 hours. My photos didn't come out really good, think their lighting may not be the most photos-friendly. 

As a parent, I like that the place was really spacious with even a calm pod for them to cool down. The activities we did that was also pretty uncommon, compared to indoor playgrounds etc. So I thought it provided quite a good experience and also exposure for them. They tried drawing with a 3D pen. Donations are optional, but we decided to contribute because the filament ain't cheap and to a certain extent, I would like to help keep nice initiative like this going. 

As an adult, some activities were also pretty refreshing for me. For me, this was a great find. Because sometimes I do bring the kids out on my own and am stuck in a limbo in between activities. A place like this (especially when it is free) helps me to keep them entertained and contained in a safe, family-friendly environment. Older kids (primary school kids and above) may struggle to stay impressed. 

Feasting during CNY: Edge Buffet

CNY is really a big event in the family. But as a working mum, it can get very overwhelming to prepare the CNY dishes. One of the easier option we have opted for now is hotpot. But when work pile up, I do struggle to even go to the market to prep the ingredients. Hence, I thought a buffet was a pretty good option too, especially when the group is big. 

We were pretty blown away with the CNY decor, something we could never come out with to be honest. I was initially concerned that we might not have yusheng (it is really a key highlight), but was really pleased to see a table prepared just for it, and you could even choose your own ingredients. Given this was a buffet, you could even add on more goodies from the other station. But nothing beats having someone to clean up the toss.  

My general concern is that most buffets are mostly don't prepare Chinese food and are lesser known for that. The same goes for Edge, so I was pleasantly surprised to see double-boiled soup, Nian Gao etc. being added to the menu. Our usual favourites were also there, so we didn't felt we missed out. For the picky eaters (like my #2), a buffet is great because we don't have to ask the relatives to make exceptions for her. And the likelihood of her finding something to her liking is high. 

Although I consider myself to be a rather stickler to tradition, I have to say a buffet isn't too bad an idea. To have a good bang for your bucks, avoid the actual CNY days, and the adults can enjoy a good lunch at less than S$100 and the children at less than S$50. Most importantly, children below 6YO eat free (that's pretty hard to beat.) Plus, nobody needs to clean up after. Huat Ah!

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** To get additional discounts, you can use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

A day at the Bird Paradise

We have finally made our way to the newly revamped Bird Park and I am absolutely in awe by it. It is located at the newly built wing. At the entrance, there was this manmade waterfall that made the entrance more grand. Unlike its predecessor, this was more curated but not in a bad way. The layout was very thoughtful and deliberate which made the whole visit impactful. 

To a certain extent, birds are less interesting than animals which come in greater form and variety. So I felt it was quite a challenge to make an aviary interesting, but they did it. I love how the whole place was layered and connected. It was beautiful.  Most of the birds except the predators were no longer enclosed in cages and could fly freely in larger enclosures. 

The shows underwent quite a bit of revamped in a good way. Because the birds are so tiny in nature, I struggled my previous visits there to even see them. With the big screens, I could now fully appreciate their talent and performance. It is a shame that the videos are pre-loaded, thought it would better if it could be recorded live. My little girl was so inspired, she her arm out throughout, hoping to have a bird or 2 land. 

For those who like surprise elements, I had a bird or 2 fluttering pass my head. If you are lucky, some birds would even hop onto you or the railings near you for a shot or 2. Based on my observation, the birds were pretty gentle though the grip of their claws may be too tight for comfort. 

An experience not to be missed would be dining with the penguins at Penguin Cove Restaurant. My kids had so much fun looking at the penguins and so did I. While we were there, there were quite a few swimming around and we managed to golden seats and great photos! In my opinion, price-point it was a lot more affordable than Ocean Restaurant at Sea Aquarium. Food taste was reasonable. (Penguin bun was a little meh, but the rest of the food were good.) Can be a bit cold but great respite from the warm weather outside. 

Generally, I thought the prices of even the retail shops at Bird Park was very reasonable. We ended up grabbling a kids umbrella which was on 30% discount. I also like the design of each eating area. There will always be a play area tagged. It makes it easier for parents to take a break. My kids would play around an hour at each play slot. Can't wait for the water area to open :D

For the feeding sessions, you really need to book early. We managed to get one slot and due to the poor weather, it was cancelled (which was a first for us). So when a feeding session gets cancelled, you will get a refund which you can use at their retail outlets. My boy was so disappointed - he cried and the kind keepers let him threw a fish. I could understand why they cancelled it because the response from the birds were rather underwhelming. None was willing to brave the weather to feed. Guess Mandai goes by the motto of "No experience better than poor experience".

The keepers also gave the kids some pins and a front row train ride to make their day better and more special. A lot of people always claimed the Bird Park to be the less attractive cousins. But since young, I found the Bird Park to have more of a soul. Although I have spent a lot more time at the zoo, but most of my core memories were actually formed at the Bird Park. Always a special place in my heart <3

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Adventure Cove: Unique Waterpark at Sentosa Singapore

A while back, we went to Adventure Cove at Sentosa. To be very honest, I wish we did more research because we went there horribly ill-prepared. Here's some learning points from us so that you won't make the same mistake and have a bigger blast than us there.

The first thing we did pretty wrong was going in during the monsoon. The rain started and stopped (rather continuously). It was annoying when queuing and we went home with a bit of the sniffles. Oops. Generally, if there isn't any lightning, the rides go on. There were 8-9 rides within, because of the rain, there were lesser people than usual. We managed to take everything, some even twice!

The gravest mistake was forgetting to bring our waterproof phone pouches along. That explains the lack of photos. You could purchase them from their souvenir shop but it was exorbitant. Basically, everything was ridiculously pricey in their shop. We spent the whole day inside. Initially, I thought we could lunch within since the price was seemingly reasonable. But you know what, the food quality was depressing. Eat your lunch before entering!

Another expensive service we note was their lockers. Thankfully, we travelled light and had a stroller for us to dump our worthless belongings. Children under the age of 4 had free entrances because they could barely take most of the thrilling rides. Would suggest to focus on the wave pool and the treehouse-cum-slide. They spent most of their time in the 2. 

Generally, I thought all the rides were pretty fun. My favourites being the Riptide Rocket, Spiral Washout and Rainbow Reef. Rainbow Reef was basically a snorkeling experience and it is the most unique for a water themepark. My regret was not being able to capture the scene I saw to share with you guys. It was breathtaking. I went twice.

Definitely not ruling out a second time there, but next time we will probably go up close with the rays, dolphins and sharks when the children are older. Personally, I thought the price was pretty reasonable (~less than S$40 for an adult ticket), which can go even cheaper when bundled with other promotions. 

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Umbra Sticks 5 Wall Hook

It is kinda obvious that I really love Umbra Hooks and their designs. Because we had 3 bedroom doors, this one took really long to accumulate at the budget I set myself. In fact, there was a point I almost gave up. I even tried to obtain a 2nd hand one from Carousell and collapsed emotionally when the seller was not responsive. By a stroke of good luck Umbra stocked up one piece and I immediately grabbed that missing one. And finally, we are complete. 

This set had better finishings and more colour options, but I went for black for consistency. We were also lucky because with the stopper, the pegs could be left open without hitting the wall behind the door. No complaints. For those who are also opting for this, perhaps you can ask a friend overseas to assist. 

Art Science Museum: The World of Studio Ghibli

I went to the ArtScience Museum yet again. No matter what, somehow I always go back again and again. It is no doubt my favourite museum in Singapore based on the number of frequency I patron. I am there this time for "The World of Studio Ghibli" exhibition. I have been anticipating this for pretty long not because I watch every one of their productions, but I am quite a bit of a fan for their iconic work.

Also, I did see a lot of people posting on it which made me even more intrigued. They did showcase most of their productions, even the not so iconic ones. It was quite balanced, with no favouritism given towards Totoro or Spirited Away. Not that it was a huge problem for me because it made me understand why Studio Ghibli was so big in Japan.  

I won't describe the exhibition as very immersive but it was definitely very thoughtful. It gave a detailed write-up on each production and also tried to showcase the top scenes in meaningful ways, with some artistic forms.  My children didn't grow up with Studio Ghibli for sure, but it was interesting to watch them pretty engaged. 

Each exhibition were mainly walkthroughs. There was more to see than to play/ touch. Personally, I thought the children might be bored and the day out was really more to suit my personal interest. But perhaps it is really how cute/ loveable the characters are, my children really enjoyed the experience and would point out the little details here and there. 

One thing to note, I thought the Art Science Museum was pretty considerate. We came in pretty late to the exhibition on the first day and didn't manage to finish it. They actually allowed us to complete the exhibition on a separate day. That explains our change of clothes hahaha. I was initially rather excited about the merch shop, but the things were priced so steeply, we bought nothing. :'(

If you are keen to check out the exhibition, your can get the tickets here!

** Use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Food Tour 53: Must-haves at Pasir Ris

To be quite frank (and spoilt), I am not really much of a fan of hawker food. I don't really enjoy the feeling of sweating while eating. Especially with children, eating at the hawker became a way harder task. It is as though you magnify the difficulty level by 100x. Gosh. 

But Pasir Ris Hawker Centre struck me quite differently. First of all, I really like its aesthetics. I also love that they had a family corner. The food I will be recommending is on priced on the higher end, but the quality was really good and they are not the norm you would see at a hawker centre. 

1. Liang Liang Golden Pao Fan

First of all, Pao Fan is not really a food you will see in Hawker Centers, let alone with collagen. This was truly delicious and of restaurant standards. With all the additions we added, this bowl you see is above S$10. It is definitely pricey for hawker standards. But deep down, I knew I would never get anything similar at this price. My only grouse would be that I need this to be located closer to home. Maybe it is just me, but I can eat this hearty meal every single day. This is my #1 food at Pasir Ris Hawker Centre. 

2. Prawnaholic

This is however, the husband's favourite. Not much of a prawn noodle person, but the soup sure was flavourful and very gao. The ingredients were also packed. This is also above S$10. If you are sharing, I suggest to go for the Pao Fan first because this would overpower everything you ate LOL! But if you like prawn noodles, you shouldn't miss this. Even I could tell it was outstanding. 

3. Piz'za Amore

Across the road, there was this pizza place at the newly opened Pasir Ris Mall that serve absolutely delightful food. Because I was kinda full, I couldn't order much mains - but the pizza, potatoes and Cannoli. The Cannoli dessert was such a must-have. I have not seen this elsewhere. I only ordered 3 items and all 3 were hits. Also the service here was spectacular. The waiter was friendly and very attentive to our needs (sometimes he realise our cups were empty, the kids tossing their cutlery on the floor way ahead of me). I would love to go back again. Or, please open an outlet closer to my home :P

Review: Picnic Buzz-kets by Bee's Knees

Back to my Novotel Staycation last quarter! So for one of the days we took the free shuttle bus out and made our way to Botanic Gardens. It was a spur of the moment decision but we ended up deciding to have a picnic there. Bee’s Knees at The Garage is one of the place we would always pop by when we are in the vicinity. I think we never ever took up their picnic basket because you needed to book 3 days ahead. This time round, we asked while we were there and we got lucky :D

It was a great experience for the children because it came with a wagon which the children could pull around as they hunt for the perfect picnic spot. For the parents it was great cos I could skip the prepping and clean-up altogether. The food was really delicious and was something I could never put together myself. 

To be rather frank, before this, I am never a huge fan of picnics in my home ground because I hate bugs and my skin tends to flare when I come in contact with grass. But somehow the grass patch near Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage was very curated really nicely. It is unnatural but it is ants-free. We actually had a great time just lazing around and the children had fun just running around. 

To get there, it was a bit of a challenge because there was no walking path so we carried our wagon and stroller down. The weather was pretty good that day because it was cloudy. We were a little worried about rain, but thank god it only rain after we were done. We paid about S$78, but I would do it again because it was just so fuss-free. I get an IG-worthy set-up along with comfy cushions. Because there is someone doing the clean up for me, I am less tense with the kids making a mess. :P

We didn't stay particularly long because the children wanted to swim after, but if you want to find out cool places to explore at Botanic Gardens, you can check my posts here! Just a note to myself, my husband was teasing me that I would things I wouldn't do in Singapore, overseas even if the conditions were way worse there. All I needed was a mindset change actually to bring the adventurous spirit in me to my homeland. Even picnics can be found, I just needed the right "ingredients"!

Umbra Skyline 5 Wall Hook Review

 

Finally, our Umbra Skyline 5 Wall Hook is up on the wall outside our bomb shelter. This piece has caught my eye because it was such a functional statement piece. You can hang about 5 light items by moving some of the building pegs outwards. I envision us using it for our everyday items and maybe a jacket/ hat. My only grouse is that the finishing is not as good as its counterpart - Sticks 5 Wall Hook.

We took a bit of time accumulating this piece because I was trying to get it at a price within budget. For those who are keen, you need to put this piece on your shopping cart and keep monitoring on Shopee/ Lazada. Once a year, they will stock up a limited 1 to 2 pieces. With some stacked discounts, it will become very affordable. No regrets really :P