My Little “Big Girl”

Did I blink too long that I didn’t realize she’s growing too fast? Well, she’s now 3 years old, almost half my height, and will start attending nursery school in a few days. She doesn’t want to be called baby anymore but big girl. “Time flies” is an understatement.

If I could only reduce time’s speed I would. But now all I can do is to cherish every moment of her innocence and keep every part of her precious childhood in the deepest recesses of my memory.

Christmas 2012

Yoshinoya

Ashrie’s a picky eater. We do not exactly approve of this and as parents we are trying to introduce her to a wide variety of food. But I think it will take more time to convince her to try certain foods, to like ketchup, mushroom, pizza, or even bread.

Yes, she eats veggies and like most children likes crunchy food – spring rolls, popcorn, and fried chicken. Recently, she discovered ebi fry or fried prawns. Not necessarily tempura but the ones fried with bread crumbs, specifically, that of Yoshinoya’s. There was a weekend that she had it for dinner and still asked for it for lunch the following day. She loves the beef gravy-drenched rice with the crispy prawns and would not mind having it everyday.

So I guess it won’t be difficult to choose a place to eat next time we go out as a family because to date, there can only be one choice, her favorite Sushinoya.

Kidventure 2012

Ashrie had always wanted to go ever since she watched the ad on TV. So, on the last day of the event we brought her to Suntec City Mall for Okto’s Kidventure. She just awoke from a bus ride-long nap but she dutifully accomplished all the required activities (all four of them) to receive her goodie bag. Although I think that Friso can do better with the reward.

The activities include Feeding the Cows, Milking the Cows, Hay Search, and Creative Space. There also photo stations, spin-the-wheel, a live show, mascots, and balloon sculpting.

After some waffles and ice cream at Geláre, we transferred to Marina Square Mall for Dinosaur Train’s musical show. The pink Dino gave us the most laughs. His head was too heavy for the poor guy to carry that he needed to always use his hand to lift the humongous head to make it more animated.

She’s happy. And when she is, we are too.

Ashrie's Tent

MyGirls never fail to amaze me with activities they have come up for play. The other day, I came home with an unusual yellow glow from the bedroom. I thought they have changed the light bulb only to find out that tent dwellers took over the master bedroom.

Ashrie said it was her castle. And what a great castle it is, with bouncy floors and all. Good thing the castle was down before bedtime.

I wonder what’s up next…

Hay Day

Howdy!

It has eaten up most of our free time at home in the past few weeks and now that the fascination has subsided, and we have almost finished it, I think it’s time to present to you our little farm.

We love Hay Day because of its animation and ease of control. The swipe planting technique is fast and easy rather than planting a crop one lot at a time. I can speak from my previous experiences with older farm games like Farm Town, Farmville, Smurf’s Village just to name a few wherein you have to tap each lot to be able to plant or harvest a crop. That is same when getting products from farm animals.

Hay Day has the cutest, most adorable farm animals in the web. Keeping it up with the Christmas season, the cows, pigs, goats, sheep and chickens are donned with cozy winter clothes until the next game update.

The online game is also brilliantly interactive. Tap the river and you’ll see fishes jumping out of it, tap a flower bed and butterflies will flutter after a few seconds, tap a bird house and birds will fly towards it. Tap a few more times and more birds will rest on it, until there is no room for more and that other birds will begin to move away from it. There are also shadows of birds hovering above the farm and for this special time, fog moves across and snow falls in random fashion.

That’s it for now, the farmer needs to harvest his crops!

Our Little Painter

I think our little painter is starting to move from abstracts to realism. Here’s her water color painting complete with a house, a tree, and some blue clouds. My favorite are the over-sized, orange-colored roses right there in the center.

Children Learn What They Live

This is a poem written by Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D. in 1972. Forty years after it has been published, I would like to share it with you. The first seven lines speak of how a negative environment creates a bad attitude and the remaining phrases tell of the benefits of a good and nurturing home to children.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

SingKids and The Petite Park

Let’s talk about playgrounds and indoor play systems for kids in Singapore. So, where do you bring your kids?

There are a lot of public playgrounds here in SG. For every cluster of HDB apartment you would see at least one. Most condos have one. Schools, shopping malls, hospitals or even churches have playgrounds. They are of high-quality materials, with rubber platforms, and comply with international safety standards. The problem with public playgrounds is the sanitation and over-all maintenance of the place. You got to correct me if I’m wrong because in my entire seven years of stay here, I haven’t seen any public playground washed, scrubbed or sanitized. But I’ve noticed some playgrounds were replaced or updated when they are so old, broken down and unsafe for use, or when nature (rain and the sun’s wash and dry routine) cannot bring it to life any longer.

Thanks to indoor playgrounds, they are maintained by the management, hence cleaner than their public counterpart. And for a treat and for a price, there are prepaid play systems. Like that of Ashrie’s favorites, SingKids at Changi Airport T3 and The Petite Park in Changi CityPoint Mall. The former has a wide play area and various mechanical equipment. The latter have a smaller play space, cost a bit cheaper with longer hours of play and boast a wide selection of wooden toys for pretend play. Both are in Changi because MyGirls meet me right after work.

Here’s a photo of Ashrie at The Petite Park.

Move two posts back to see Ashrie’s photo at SingKids.

And if all else fails, there are water play parks, swimming pool complexes, the beach, Smaland, and IKEA’s toy’s section!

ELC’s Pre-Christmas Toy Fair

Christmas comes early (for Ashrie at least) for we have stocked the house with new toys. Thanks to ELC’s Pre-Christmas Toy Fair, now the masses can buy their toys! We’ve promised ourselves not to buy toy presents for her this Christmas, but as they say, “Promises are meant to be broken”, so let’s just see.

So head down to United Square Mall to check out the toy fair. Sale is until Sunday, 21 October 2012. Here’s their official poster.

By the way, Christmas is coming and I’m sure you’ll be writing a lot of the holidays. PLEASE. Please take the time to write the whole word C-H-R-I-S-T-mas and not Xmas (pronounced as Ex-mas, like X-Men!) because that is really not cool. Okay?

Ashrie’s Back!

After almost two agonizing weeks of stomach flu coupled with fever, she’s up and about. She just recovered fully the other day so when she asked Jane to bring her to SingKids yesterday, my wife couldn’t say no. She knew very well that Ashrie deserved a break and a treat after those gruelling days of being ill.

Unfortunately for me, as I have planned to reach home early because I need to prepare not one, but two banana cakes for Jane’s Kitchen Shop. Needless to say, we reached home around 10PM, started the actual baking at 11PM and finished everything by 2AM! And I need to be up by 6AM for work. Oh well!

Good thing this is not an everyday thing.

Peppa Pig and Olivia

Both Peppa Pig and Olivia are airing on Okto this month and Ashrie loves every minute of it. She’s familiar with them because we have been reading both of the book series. Now she’s even happier because she can watch the animated series, all in their pink glory!

Here is Peppa Pig on the Grandpa Pig’s Computer episode. Oh you gotta love the accent and the snort!



And here’s the etiquette-conscious, straight-laced Olivia.



Hope you enjoyed the video shares. Until then!

Gingersnaps

Now that Ashrie’s photo made it to Gingersnaps Kids album via the Gingersnaps Singapore’s wall, I think it’s high time that I should write about Gingersnaps.

The young daughters of the Philippine’s rich and famous wear them. Even in Singapore, you can see Young Parents cover girls clad in Gingersnaps latest collection. It is world-class, it looks really good, and it is a Philippine brand.

For now, we have three most visited, well-loved clothing stores for her, GAP Kids, Zara Kids and of course Gingersnaps! We definitely love Gingersnaps designs because it makes our little fashionista stand-out from the crowd with her mini-sized, lady-like dresses. We love that look on her, not the very girly stuffs with pony tails and loud floral dresses. So whenever we visit the Philippines, we would religiously visit their stores simply because it is the mecca of Gingersnaps stocks and the first to enjoy the new collection the clothing line has to offer. We would stock up on beautiful dresses which will be good for six months to a year’s supply of apparel.

So even before this photo was taken and posted, she's already a true-blue Gingersnap Kid!

Click here to know all about them. See you soon Gingersnaps!

Buckle Up!

I am not sure if this is funny to you but it gave us the LOLs when we heard it.

A few weeks back, Me&MyGirls took a cab to send us home. After a tiring day, the best, fastest, and the most convenient way to reach home (not to consider the extra cost, of course) is to hire a taxi. We got in at the back seat and wore our seatbelts. Just then, the automated female voice message went on, “Please fasten your seatbelts”. In a jiff, Ashrie replied in the same tone and speed but more intense, “WE ALREADY FASTENED OUR SEATBELTS!”

Stay safe guys! Until next time!



Uncle Ringo is in Town!

No, he’s not my real uncle neither he is a real human being, but it might be named after him. Whatever the reason is, I didn’t know Uncle Ringo until last night. It’s a small carnival, a fair! But not the Universal Studios type, but instead, the Pasar Malam (night market) type that we have here in the heartlands. We decided to bring our daughter out for a walk at Khatib Plaza last night. She has been down with stomach flu the past few days and an outdoor escapade would be a treat for her. Also, it would be interesting to see her react to a local fun fair. She has tried the animal ride which can roam around malls and the train ride in the SM Mall in the Philippines which literally “choo-choos” all around one section of the mall’s atrium. And of course, the usual $1.00 to $3.00 vendo rides in shopping malls. But this one is different, it is outdoor and very similar to the Philippine “perya”. (Perya is the Filipino transliteration of the Spanish word feria which means fair.)

Entrance is free. Tickets are priced at $3.00 each for the Truck and Car Ride (the one she chose), the Balloon-Popping Booth, the “Anchor’s Away”, the Slide, and the Train. The Bump Car ride is worth 2 tickets and is designed for bigger kids or even adults.

It was not crowded. Actually, she was alone when the ride started. It was about 10 to 12 rotations on a track which went up, down and around. I was hesitant at first to let her ride fearing that she might jumped on the tracks while the thing is moving but she finished the ride quite well-behaved with a few smiles every time her truck passed us by, steering occasionally and with her seatbelt fastened. It made me realized that she has grown, both emotionally and intellectually.

Speaking of growth, I am proud of her at how she handled her latest checkup and blood test. She sat quietly and responded pretty well to the attending nurse while her blood pressure was taken. And she just cried in the beginning when the nurse pricked her finger to get some drops of her precious Type AB blood to a vial. Also, we were surprised at her latest height check at Smaland (Ikea’s playground) to know that she is now eligible to enter and play!

Oh, she has really grown…

The Value of Time

How do you see time? I think as we age, we tend to value time more. We see time in years or in decades, we look back at how we are then and what we have become now. We realized that time is short and indeed the days, months, and years pass us by so quickly. I hate to be melancholic but I can’t help it. Probably it’s common for people who are nearing mid-life (wipes tears). Hahaha! But I hope my faith in God will keep me sane as I go through that phase. Nevertheless, I am certain, that He who holds the future holds me and my family, our hopes and dreams, our plans and decisions, in the palm of His hands.

To realize the value of one year, ask a student who has failed a final exam
To realize the value of one month, ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby
To realize the value of one week, ask an editor of a weekly newspaper
To realize the value of one hour, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet
To realize the value of one minute, ask the person who has missed the plane, the bus or train
To realize the value of one second, ask a person who has survived an accident
To realize the value of one millisecond, ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics

Time waits for no one, let us treasure every moment that God gives knowing that you and I are living on borrowed time.*

*A transcript from 702 DZAS Sunday Selection Podcast.

Turkey

Ashrie’s love language for now, without a doubt, is Quality Time. She adores whoever spends playtime with her, especially if it is done in consecutive days. That’s why she’s specifically ecstatic during weekends, more so during our holidays. And it is no wonder why she loves Mom more than Dad, because Jane stays with her 24/7 while I work 6.5/7 (Mondays to Fridays and Saturdays until 1pm.)

Last night, they read the book entitled, The Eagle Who Thought He Was a Turkey, while I was doing some graphic designs for Jane’s blog. It’s about an eagle, which after years of doing “turkey things” finally discovered that he can soar in the sky… that he was meant for greatness.

Afterwards, I heard Ashrie saying, “Guess how much I love you.” Her mommy said, “How much?” Her reply was, “As high as the rainbow!”

Later in the night when I joined them in bed, Ashrie asked me the same question, “Daddy, guess how much I love you?” Excited, I said, “How much?” She replied, “As high as the birds flying in the sky!” I asked which bird, the eagle? She answered, “No, turkey!

Chef Ashrie

Last weekend, we surprised Ashrie with additional play kitchen tools. It was actually real kitchen utensils but reduced in scale- real porcelain plates, stainless steel pots and pans, baking pans and cookie cutters. We bought it online and glad that it came in good condition.

She used it as soon as we opened the package and even join us as we make cinnamon rolls that same morning. We also tried baking on it in the oven together with our rolls (of course her rolls cooked faster because of the petite size) and it came out unscathed.

And here is a “before and after baking” shot of her mini-cinamon rolls.

Until next time, thanks for tuning in!

Benefits of Discipline

I couldn’t stress enough the value of discipline in parenting. It is impossible to love your child without discipline. It comes hand in hand. You would not allow your child do whatever he wishes because it will bring problems later in life (for both of you) if he gets all what he wants and do whatever he feels like doing while he is still young. All the more if what he likes will not benefit him, today or in future.

I know a certain couple who buys one toy for their toddler for every toy store visit. They say if they will not do it, their daughter would make a scene in the toy store by crying her lungs out while lying on the floor. They also would not give discipline for unacceptable behavior simply because they are guilty not being able to take care of her because they both needed to work. And that she is still very young.

Discipline is not merely punishment. It is a training process for the child. It is both difficult for both the parents and the child but discipline when done in the virtue of love, in the proper time and procedure, and with the intention of bringing-out righteousness will reap great rewards for both the child and the parents.

I have listened to one of Dr. Harold Sala’s audio podcast from www.guidelines.org last month about discipline and I have to agree with every word. It is important, it is crucial to discipline our children. Below is the transcript of his five-minute commentary.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6, KJV

Ethel Barrett tells of the time she was waiting her turn in a beauty shop when a little boy, about 4 years of age, started yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs. Most folks tried to ignore the unruly child, but then a gray-haired lady gruffly barked, "Sit down!" and the 4 year old, ready to do battle with her, threw a magazine at her.

Like a drill sergeant, she gave the order again, "Sit down!" and this time she picked him up and sat him in a chair. The little boy let out a blood curdling scream which could be heard miles away. Picking up the magazine which had been thrown at her, she began to turn the pages asking, "What's that?" pointing to the pictures. The little boy still paid no attention and yelled at the top of his lungs. The gray-haired grandmother kept turning the pages until the little boy had begun responding, naming the things in the pictures.

Finally, the grandmother wiped away his tears and he was quite happy when it was her turn to have her hair done. As she prepared to get up she said, "Now you sit here and look at this magazine."

As Ethel Barrett passed by she said, "My, you have an intelligent child with you!" "My child?" said the gray-haired grandmother, "I never saw that kid before. I saw he needed discipline and decided to give it to him!"

For a generation or so, the experts told parents that discipline would inhibit a child's development, and as the result of that advice a generation of kids grew up without much guidance, and we've reaped a whirlwind effect today. But much of this has changed. Discipline has come back into style, at least in a measure.

What does discipline accomplish in the life of a youngster?

Five things which may well be an encouragement to you, whether you are a parent, a grandparent, or a friend.

Benefit #1: Discipline produces happy, well-adjusted children. The story which I related, a true one as well, illustrates that point. Hebrews 12:11 from the New Testament says, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Benefit #2: Discipline produces security to any child by knowing the boundaries of acceptable behavior. Go to the largest sheep ranch in Australia and you will find an ewe with her head stuck through the barbed wire trying to nibble the grass just beyond her reach. That's the way we are, too. No matter where you set limits, kids will push for just a bit more; however, when children know how far they can go, and understand that, there comes a security which they can never have when parents won’t say, "This is the limit!"

Benefit #3: Discipline teaches obedience to parental authority, something which has been noticeably missing in recent days. Our English word discipline comes from a Latin word, discere which means "to know," and discipline gives the knowledge of right and wrong with the motivation to do right. Discipline--which is much different from punishment--enforces the teaching learning process.

Benefit #4: Discipline helps a child learn to assume responsibility. Show me a man who is successful, and I'll show you a person who learned personal discipline, somewhere, whether it was at home, in school, or in the military. One of the traits of successful people is the ability to discipline themselves and subsequently apply themselves to a given task which produces accomplishment.

Benefit #5: Discipline provides guidance and safety until a child is old enough to make reasoned value-decisions on his own. Discipline means everybody wins parents and kids alike.

Resource reading: Ephesians 6:1-9.

Diaper Baby No More

Jane started the Potty Training Book 2 (Say No to Bedwetting) with Ashrie earlier last month and it has been good so far. (I made that title up, I don’t know whether such a book really exists.) So now there’ll be less and less diapers to buy because she will no longer wear a diaper for the night. Thank God for that!

But that would mean extra effort on Jane’s part because she’ll be more mindful of Ashrie’s liquid intake especially at night and to be ready to wash the entire bed sheets and covers from unavoidable mishaps. This will happen when Jane (Ashrie’s bedwetting alarm clock) fails to wake her up in wee hours of the morning to wee wee! Just now she is blaming Mommy for failing to wake her up when accidents happen. But she’ll get used to it. (Ashrie not Jane.)

Training is indeed difficult but it all pays off and we are reaping the rewards of training her while she is still young. And lastly, what a blessing it is, what feeling of success to wake up in the morning with Ashrie’s dry jammies and “wee wee-free” bed sheets!

I Love You, Little Monster

It's been a while since got our hands on a good book and this one fills the gap. I Love You, Little Monster by Giles Andreae and Jess Mikhail. It's a story about the parental love and the innocence of childhood presented in sweet, poetic lines of "Big" to a pretending-to-be-asleep "Small". Definitely a must-read for parents and your little monsters.

Staycation at the Marina Mandarin

If you are a follower in Instagram or a friend in Facebook, you probably know by now that we have celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary at Marina Mandarin Singapore. It’s “we”, meaning Me&MyGirls so it’s more of a family outing rather than a romantic couple event. Nevertheless, a short staycation gave us a well-deserved vacation feel during the long weekend.


Ashrie's ready to go!

Waiting for Transport

Jane and Ashrie for a swim

Buffet breakfast at the Aquamarine

Living permanently in Singapore, this is just our second time to stay in a Singapore hotel. We stayed in hotels whenever we visit another country or sometimes when we go back to the Philippines. And I would say, their hospitality (although a 5-star hotel) is somewhat different from what we are used to receive, so we are somewhat disappointed or surprised on how they handled us as guests. To rate, I will give our stay 3 stars. Why? Read on.

Jane made a reservation four days in advance only to hear when we arrived at the reception that there is no room available and we need to wait for at least 30 minutes more and come back again to check if there is an available room for us. When we finally got the card keys and went up to our rooms (with Ashrie’s luggage and our bags because they did not offer to bring it up for us), our room door was open and an attendant was still there talking on his phone! How welcoming, right? Inside, there were two “bruised” green apples that looked like it had been there for generations! I hope they replaced it by now.

The hotel in general, especially the interiors are well-kept. The lobby is a feast to the senses, from the imposing atrium which soars through the hotel’s 21 floors, to the rustling fountains, to the chirping of the nightingales and shamas (in cages) and the artworks along the corridor. The room’s bathroom fixtures and fittings are in very good condition. There are more than enough towels for a night stay although toiletries should be doubled for a couple. There is even an ironing board! The buffet breakfast was fine but don’t expect bacon and sausages because they serve Halal breakfasts. Also, the hotel is very accessible to Marina Square, Millenia Walk and Suntec City. However, they need to renovate their swimming pool. And definitely must do a major staff training on excellent customer service. Lastly, being one of the giants in the hotel business, I think Meritus wasn’t able to bring personal touches right down to the guests.


Marina Mandarin Singapore's Atrium

Ashrie at the Reception Lobby

View from the hotel

Happy Ashrie!

We're happy when she's happy!


We enjoyed our relaxing stay. It’s a good getaway from the mundane work for me, the unglamorous motherly duties for Jane, and the monotony of everyday routine for Ashrie. We will do a staycation again soon. Let’s see what other hotels have to offer.

Mo Willems

We love the Elephant and Piggie series. Note that I wrote "we" and not only Ashrie. The adventures of these two adorable characters with opposite personalities never fail to amuse us. They are hilarious, cute, crazy and sometimes heartwarming and sweet.

The man behind this series is none other than Mo Willems. He is the talented author-illustrator of these books along with his equally, critically-acclaimed children book series like the Knuffle Bunny, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct and many more. He was a writer and animator of Sesame Street where he garnered six Emmy Awards! Here he is in a special book reading I found in YouTube.
 

One thing he said in an interview is his philosophy, and I want to share it with all parents, teachers and guardians who read books to children. He said, "Books should not just be read, they should be played."

Pinoys Give Back

There is a great need for help in the Philippines especially now that another disaster hit a huge part of Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Luzon. The floods have claimed lives, brought an immense damage to properties and crops, and affected not only their classes or their work but their entire living conditions for weeks.

Needless to say more, the Pinoy Connection with the support of Evangel Family Church organized the project entitled Pinoys Connect Home. It's a "giving back" initiative wherein members were encouraged to bring clothes, shoes, canned goods and even toys to be distributed to the affected families in the Philippines.

We brought whatever we can share and helped in the sorting and boxing of the goods. We had fun along with our fellow church members.

If you wish to donate to the Philippines, our team will still be accepting donations until 26 August, 2012. Thanks!

Terrarium

Who would want a plant as a present for his birthday? Well, that would be me. And who would know me best to surprise me with one? That's Jane, my wife.

Back in June, (a late post, I know) I came home sighting a new object on the dining table. It was the Tropical Green Forest terrarium from The Plant Story. And I, as she expected was very pleased with it. She bought it online and had it delivered exactly on my birthday.

Unlike in the Philippines where I had a garden, complete with a cast iron welcome bell on an arch, a koi pond, a succulents and cacti collection, well-maintained topiaries, bonsais, antique jars, and a lawn spacious enough to hold a small party, living here in Singapore I could only afford to be an urban gardener. And I think my "pets" here have eased the longing to tend for a “real one” a bit.

My terrarium has been with me for almost two months now and I have already pruned it a couple of times. I think it has adapted to its new location quite well. Moreover, it has called for some company as you can see.

So how do you make a terrarium? It's actually simple. Here’s how.

You will need:
A jar with lid (an apothecary jar works and looks best, but any jar would do. There is even a growing trend on light bulb terrarium these days)
Gravel
Dried Sphagnum Moss
Charcoal
Potting soil
Small plants and ferns
Fresh Moss

Procedure:
1. Make sure that your glass container is clean and dry.
2. Gently pour in the gravel. This serves two purposes, as drainage for the excess water and as a weight stabilizer for your terrarium.
3. Cover the gravel with dried sphagnum moss. This will act as a filter and prevent the soil from seeping into the gravel layer. It absorbs excess water too.
4. Add a few small pieces of charcoal. This will absorb all the fumes from the decaying matter making the terrarium air sweet-smelling for you and your plants.
5. Add the potting soil. Cactus mix is best because it has good drainage.
6. Plant your chosen ferns or small indoor plants.
7. Use fresh moss as top dressing and add small stones or driftwood for decorative accents.
8. Water your plants. (IMPORTANT: Do not overwater.)

I think it’s just a cool idea to have a small garden encased in glass. It’s like a miniature earth wherein there is a water cycle going on. In this capsule, humidity is controlled, your plants are pest-free, and no drips from drain holes when watering. Just place it in a well-lit area (no direct sunlight or it will cook your plants) and you’re good to go. They say terrariums thrive in neglect, but check from time to time if needs misting or pruning. It is best that the leaves are not touching the glass walls. Lastly, removed the lid if the glass is clouded because of condensation, or at least once a month just to give it a breath of fresh air.

Happy Gardening!

Young Parents Preschool Seminar 2012

We have registered, paid the fees, hence we are officially attending Young Parents Magazine's Preschool Seminar 2012.

I remember we have already attended a similar seminar by YP back in 2010 but Ashrie was still too young back then. So this seminar will be a refresher course for us, and a timely one since our daughter will already be in preschool next year.

It will be held in Marriot Hotel on September 15, 2012 at 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. Click on the photo to enlarge and view the topics for the seminar and for more details. So, see you there!

Jane’s Kitchen

I probably would not post anything about Jane’s recipes anymore on this blog after this. Not that she won’t be doing any cooking anymore. In fact, she will continue to prepare delicious meals for the family. It’s just that we have a different venue to share them, her own blog! Entitled Jane’s Kitchen, it features easy-to-follow and kitchen-tested recipes.

A Screenshot of Jane's Blog

Looking back, when she moved to Singapore after our wedding, she didn’t know much about cooking. She would contact her mother about certain dishes and follow some through the internet. Little did she (and I) know that she had a flair for the culinary arts.

So kudos to my wife! And let there be many more recipes and blog entries to come!

Jump Shots

I never knew that doing jump shots can be this fun!

A few Sundays back, our team at Pinoy Connection celebrated our victory with an “eat-out” and “get together” fellowship which was held at the Lower Seletar Reservoir Park. After the church service, we just bought fast food for our snacks or should I say late lunch. We also had impromptu fun games like Strawberry Relay and an Eating Contest. Although there were dark clouds and a big possibility of rain earlier at noon, it turned out to be a beautiful Sunday afternoon. It was windy and the weather was just perfect.

After eating and a few chit-chats, we did some picture-taking and of course, as the title suggests, we did jump shots! And boy it was fun! I guess everybody enjoyed it especially little Ashrie.

One, two, three… JUMP!

Pinoy Connection

Just noticed that our picture was included in Evangel’s photo slideshow for the Filipino Fellowship spread on their website. This was taken at the bus shelter in front of the church, while waiting for the shuttle bus going to Sentosa last year.

By the way, if you are interested to join us in Pinoy Connection, we are meeting as a group once every two months. Or if you wish to attend any of Evangel Family Church’s gatherings, be sure to visit this website.

Hope to see you there!

Birdie's Big-Girl Dress

If this is not the ultimate children’s book for little fashionistas, I don’t know what is! Of all the books we have read to Ashrie (which would probably count more than a hundred titles since her birth), this is one-of-a-kind!

It’s a story about Birdie and her quest to find a birthday dress. Her mom brought her to their favorite boutique but nothing fits her right to do the things she wants on her party. So they went home empty-handed, only to found out that she can create the perfect dress using her grandparents’ old clothes in the attic! Well, fashion runs in the family, I must say.

Obviously written for the kids of the rich, this book is filled with pages of colorful painted sketches and magazine cut-out illustrations. Make sure you highlight the positive values in the story when you tell it to your kids, which is being resourceful and frugal and drop the materialistic aspect of the book.

And why is the girl named Birdie by the way?

We have yet to read her first book.