Freeze. Squeeze. Enjoy.

Product Review

From twirly straws to cartoon-themed cutlery, kids love a little bit of excitement and novelty when it comes to drinking and eating. And the Chill Factor products certainly seem to fit into the novelty camp, with the claim of turning ordinary ingredients into super chilled offerings in under 3 minutes!

To be honest, this was the first time I heard about Chill Factor and its product's ability to conjure up chilled drinks and treats in record time... with no mess and no fuss to boot! And anything to do with icy treats, you can be sure that my monkies will be the first in line to try them out.

The Chill Factor Colour Blast Slushy Maker (S$19.90) was the first to be put to the test, which promised to deliver a delicious icy cold slushy in a minute! As with all Chill Factor products, there are only three easy steps to make an icy treat - FREEZE, SQUEEZE and ENJOY.

The first step was easy enough: just pop the cup into the freezer for a good 6-8 hours before use. After that, it is action time! Remove the frozen cup from the freezer and pour in drink of your choice... which happened to be Milo for the monkies. Then the fun began as the monkies took turns to squeeze the cup up and down for a minute or so, and the magic soon started to appear in front of their eyes.

An icy Milo slush! How cool is that?? Literally, and figuratively of course.

The monkies found it absurdly simple to do and required so little effort that even Ale could do it. I think for them, the most amazing part of the squeezing was watching the icy slush bits emerge from the cold sides of the cup as they squeezed. And due to an outer flexible casing around the cup, it is not at all cold to touch.

Definitely no mess at all, and taking the cup apart to wash it up was a doddle. And guess what - it immediately found its way back to the freezer so that Ash could have his Chrysanthemum Tea slushy!

With slushies conquered, the monkies turned their sights onto the Chill Factor Jelly Maker (S$22.90). Using the same principle as the Slushy Maker, the Jelly Maker allows one to make Jelly in minutes, not hours! All we had to do was to pop the Jelly Maker into the freezer, pour in the slightly cooled jelly mixture (For best results use half the recommended water amount), squeeze and watch the transformation in minutes from liquid to a delicious, ready to eat Jelly!

You can watch a cool demonstration of the Jelly Maker in action here:

Once the jelly has formed, just turn the jelly maker upside down and use the cover as a bowl for the jelly! 

You may also have noticed that only a small amount of slush or jelly is produced using the Chill Factor products... and there is a very good reason for that. The sizes and volume output are designed so that it is suitable for use by children and is portion controlled.

Next up, the Chill Factor Frozen Yoghurt Maker (S$22.90) and with the monkies being huge fans of yoghurt, it was no surprise that all three of them were clamouring to get all squeezy and whip up some frozen yoghurt!

Using Chill Factor's Rapid Freeze Technology (or RFT) once again, the Frozen Yogurt Maker transformed the monkies' favourite strawberry-flavoured yoghurt into a delicious frozen treat under 4 minutes by just squeezing. I reckon part of the fun is also the squeezing and watching the yoghurt slowly turning into a frozen glob before one's very eyes!

Frozen yogurt is obviously a great low fat alternative to ice cream so with the Frozen Yoghurt Maker, you select what goes into the container so your frozen treat can be as healthy and tasty as you decide- giving both parents and kids the perfect excuse to indulge in a heathier icy treat minus the guilt (and fats).

And as if that was not enough, we decided to try out the Frozen Yoghurt Maker with a yoghurt drink too!

And the end result? A resounding success!

Be it the Slushy Maker, Jelly Maker or Frozen Yoghurt Maker, I think I echo the monkies' thoughts when I say I loved every single one of them! Not only because they are a lot of fun to use, but also I can allow them to have their favorite cold treats... while knowing exactly the ingredients that are going into them, which are definitely way healthier than a lot of other drinks that we can buy from stores.

Want to try making an icy treat with your child too? I have just got the right thing for you...

GIVEAWAY!

Thanks to Sheng Tai Toys, I have FIVE Chill Factor Jelly Makers to give away!

To take part, simply follow the following steps:

1. LIKE Sheng Tai Toys Facebook Page HERE, if you have not already done so.

2. Email Sheng Tai Toys at promotion@shengtai.com.sg with the following details:

Subject Header: CHILL FACTOR JELLY MAKER GIVEAWAY

Name of Parent:

Facebook Name:

Mobile Number:

Name of Child:

Child's Date of Birth:

3. Leave a comment either in THIS blog post or on our Cheekiemonkies' Facebook corresponding post HERE to let me know once you have completed the 2 steps above.

Important: You have to complete all three steps in order to be eligible for the draw.

This giveaway is open to all residents in Singapore. Giveaway ends on 7 October 2014, 2359 hours. Good luck!

Chill Factor products are available at all leading departmental stores, Action City, Gift Greetings, selected Popular and selected NTUC Fairprice (Eg. AMK Hub, JEM, Jurong Point). For more details on its porducts, visit www.thechillfactor.com.

Children's Day Activities for Kids 2014

Kids who are 12 years old and below have got it good this coming weekend. Not only is it Children's Day this Friday, Hari Raya Haji's in-lieu holiday falls on the following Monday making it a super combo long weekend for the little ones! And if you are fretting over where to bring them, I have done the homework for you!

Rhino Month @ Singapore Zoo

20 Sep - 19 Oct 2014

Singapore Zoo

Admission Fees apply

Singapore Zoo will launch its inaugural Rhino Month from 20 September to 19 October 2014 to raise awareness about the plight of rhinoceroses in the wild. Join in tonnes of rhino fun and learn the horn-est truth about rhinos and the threats that they face in the wild!

Event dates: 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19 Oct 2014 (Sat, Sun & Hari Raya Haji)

All About Rhinos 
See & touch actual rhino specimens, pick up an activity sheet & receive a little gift when you complete it!
Time: 10am – 4pm
Venue: Rainforest Courtyard  (Outside the retail store)

Rhino Craft 
Model your own clay rhino and wrist band and learn about rhinos at the same time! Token donation of $2 required for clay modelling activity.
Time: 10am – 4pm
Venue: Wild Africa (hut in front of Nyala exhibit)

Wild Africa Guided Tour
Let our friendly guides tell you more about the inhabitants of the savannah in this 20-min guided tour. Registration required at All About Rhinos booth (8-min walk to tour starting point). Limited to 30 slots per tour on a first come first served basis.
Time: 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm
Tour starts at: Wild Africa (hut in front of Nyala exhibit)

Indian Safari Floral Display

29 Sep - 2 Nov 2014; 9am - 9pm

Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay

Admission Charges apply

Come along on a botanical experience to India and come face to face with animals of the wild like tigers and elephants - made of plants of course - as you take in the grandeur of India's national bird, the peacock, elegantly draped in colourful blooms such as pansies, marigolds and orchids.

Free entry for kids to Indian Safari on Children's Day weekend!
Kids visit the conservatories FREE with each accompanying adult! For local residents from 3 - 6 October only. For terms and conditions, visit HERE.

Scientifix

29 Sep - 5 Oct 2014

Compass Point

There’s some totally fun and whacky science for kids happening at Compass Point this Children’s Day! The kids will get a real buzz out of these amazing hands-on experimental workshops and shows. Register from 1 October 2014 for the Sensational Science Workshops for children aged 4 – 12 years at the Customer Service Counter, Basement 1. Workshops will be held from 1 – 5 October 2014, Level 1 Main Atrium at 4.45pm, 6.45pm and 8pm. Slots are limited, so be sure to register for the workshops when you spend a minimum of $50 in a maximum of 3 same-day purchase transactions swiped to your Frasers Rewards card at participating retailers.

Show Me Science are must see sensational live science shows that are sure to make learning fun! Happening from 3 - 5 October, Level 1, Main Atrium at 5.30pm and 7pm both days, you’ll want to get in early and grab front seats, so you don’t miss a thing over this terrific scientific weekend!

Singapore Teochew Festival

Now til 5 Oct 2014; 11am - 10pm daily

Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza

$5 (Entry Only)

Singapore Teochew Festival is proudly organised and presented by the Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan and celebrates the rich heritage of the Teochews in Singapore! Visitors will be captivated by specially-curated sections – Culture & Heritage, Food & Beverage and Arts & Crafts. Children will not be left out as there will be special activities such as craft-making and colouring competitions to introduce Teochew culture in fun and engaging ways.

The festival will span an area of more than 30,000 square feet and comprise 20 vendors brimming with unique food products, scrumptious fare and gorgeous merchandise. The public can also look forward to a good insight on Teochew life from food vendors and artistic talents that have been specially invited from Shantou, China to add pizzazz to the event.  For more information, visit http://teochewfestival.com/.

Cavalia

Now til 5 Oct 2014

Tue - Fri: 7.30pm | Sat: 2pm & 7.30pm | Sun: 12pm & 5.30pm

Bayfront Avenue beside Marina Bay Sands

Various ticket prices

Cavalia is an innovative multi-media and multi-disciplinary theatrical production that boldly explores the boundaries of equestrian arts and acrobatic feats. It deftly combines 50 magnificent real horses, 43 riders, aerialists, acrobats, dancers and musicians from all over the world - all of these coming together for a show fit for families and friends, young and old alike. Simply put, it is a show like no other and the monkies will attest to that who remained spellbound throughout the show. Check out our review HERE. For more information, visit cavalia.sg.

Lantern Carnival by the Lake

Now til 5 Oct 2014; 5pm - 10pm daily

$5 (normal), $3 (PAssion Card holders) 

Science Centre Singapore Lakeside (beside Snow City)

For the first time, Science Centre Singapore (SCS) will be hosting the inaugural edition of Lantern Carnival by the Lake, where dozens of lanterns will illuminate the Science Centre’s premises. This year’s event will play on children’s interest in extraterrestrial beings, with 22 human-sized alien and UFO-inspired lanterns lining SCS’ iconic lakeside. In addition, visitors can look forward to other highlights, such as lantern-making workshops, liquid nitrogen demonstrations and star-gazing sessions.

The Nightingale 夜莺 (Mandarin)

18 Sep - 11 Oct 2014

Tue - Fri: 10am | Sat & Sun: 11am, 2pm

DBS Arts Centre - Home of SRT

Weekdays: $22, $25 | Weekends: $32, $35

SRT's The Little Company brings you a refreshing new take on Hans Christian Andersen's well-loved fairy tale... but in MANDARIN! The Nightingale is a joyful burst of song that reminds us all to appreciate and value the world around us. Enchanted by the lilting birdsong of the plain-looking, brown Nightingale, the little Emperor of China captures and keeps her in a gilded cage for his daily entertainment. But soon, along with her freedom, the beautiful voice of the Nightingale is lost and a singing mechanical bird replaces her. Join the Nightingale and friends in their quest for her freedom. For tickets, click HERE.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites

27 Sep - 5 Oct 2014

Mon: 10am, 2pm | Wed & Thur: 10am | Sat: 10.30am, 2pm, 4pm | Fri & Sun: 10.30am, 4pm

Drama Centre Theatre

Weekdays: $25, $28 | Weekends: $32, $35

Meet The Very Hungry Caterpillar as he chomps away on his journey to metamorphosis! Starting out as a baby caterpillar eating anything and everything along the way, he changes into a beautiful butterfly at the end. Then, join bored Little Cloud who decides to stray away from his fellow mates to go on a thrilling adventure transforming himself into an airplane, a sheep, a clown with a funny hat and even a shark! And lastly, follow The Mixed Up Chameleon who doesn't think he's special changing colours everyday. He finally embraces his uniqueness only after an identity calamity happens when he decides to emulate the different animals he meets at the zoo. For tickets, click HERE.

SEAA Wonders: Spooky Sea

1 Oct - 16 Nov 2014

SEA Aquarium, Resorts World Sentosa

Admission Fees apply

This October, brace yourself for some of the scariest-looking marine animals you have ever seen. Discover amazingly spooky facts beyond their creepy looks with our exciting line-up of programmes and activities.

Spooky Seas Adventure Trail

Ready, set, go! With a map in hand, kids can set off on this fun and educational adventure. Through 12 activity stations around the aquarium, they will learn amazing facts about seemingly scary animals and discover why they are often misunderstood.

Venue: Ocean Gallery

Date: 1 October to 16 November 2014

Time: 10am to 7pm

Ocean Dreams – Spooky Seas Edition

The iconic sleepover programme at S.E.A. Aquarium takes on a Halloween twist. Click HERE to find out more!

Sharing sessions by aquarists

SEAA aquarists will be conducting a series of presentations on scary-looking marine animals, and how their unique morphological features make them appear creepy.

Venomous versus Poisonous Marine Animals: Do you know that some of the most innocent-looking reef fishes are equipped with self-defense mechanisms? And those that can't hide may defend themselves using venomous darts, needles, stinging cells or toxins in their skin. Come find out which are the Top 5 most hazardous animals at S.E.A. Aquarium.

Date: 4/5/6th October

Time: 11.30 & 15.00

Venue: Ocean Dome

Masters of Camouflage: Now you see me, now you don’t. Marine animals have incredible camouflage methods that allow them to survive and reproduce. Discover how they can change their skin color, pattern or texture to blend in with their surroundings, or even mimic everyday objects to avoid being noticed.

Date: 4/5/6th October

Time: 13.30 & 16.30

Venue: Ocean Dome

Baby Market Fair 2014

2 - 5 Oct 2014

2-4 Oct:: 11am-9pm | 5 Oct: 11am- 6pm

Singapore Expo Hall 4

FREE Admission

Baby Market is the Biggest Baby Fair in Singapore, entirely dedicated to pregnancy, birth, babies & toddlers. This mega baby event offers amazing shopping, expert advice, professional services, entertainment and features everything under one roof for prenatal, birth, breastfeeding, babies, toddlers, parents and grandparents too!

Octoburst! Drawing Competition and Colouring Fun

3 Oct 2014; 8.30am - 11.30am

Esplanade Concourse

It's a mystery theme this year so come down to Esplanade and find out the secret! 5 to 12 year-olds can participate in the On-the-spot Drawing Competition, with prizes to be won while 2 to 4 year-olds can indulge in some Colouring Fun! Event is free but registration is required. Visit HERE for more information and to register. *Closing date for registration is 1 Oct 2013.

Octoburst! 2014

3 - 6 Oct 2014; Various Timings

Esplanade

In celebration of Children’s Day and childhood, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay presents the 11th edition of Octoburst!. The annual festival is Esplanade’s festival of arts and culture for children aged two to 12 and over four days, Esplanade will be transformed into a wonderland for children, with ticketed and non-ticketed activities that will surprise, amaze and bring fun to young ones.

From a production that offers a behind the scenes glimpse into how an animated film is created (Something Very Far Away), to a huge outdoor maze made of colourful ribbons which will be created by children themselves (aMaze me!), the festival offers a line-up of ticketed and non-ticketed interactive activities that encourage imagination and play.

Download the full calender of events HERE. For more information, visit www.esplanade.com/octoburst/2014/.

Children’s Day Extravaganza!

3 - 5 Oct 2014; 

Downtown East, Event Square

3 Oct: 
FREE Admission/Play for first 50 kids* at Downtown East for the following activities: eXplorerkid, Hoverball, Megabounce, Wild Wild Wet and Zoomoov.
*Valid for kids 12 years old (born year 2002) and under.


4 Oct: 7:30pm | Event Square
Catch FREE screening of 'The Lorax' Movie with FREE popcorns!


5 Oct: 2pm | Event Square
Get creative at the Colour-Your-Bus contest. *Registration fee applies. To register, visit HERE.
Meet and greet with Enzo & Kayla from eXplorerkid!

Young Learners Festival 2014

3 - 5 Oct 2014

3 Oct: 1.30pm-5pm | 4-5 Oct: 10am-5pm

Science Centre Singapore, Marquee & Ecogarden

Admission charges apply; $2 fee per activity

Making Sense @ Ecogarden
Calling all brave explorers, come join Mr and Ms Organs on a magical journey to explore the sight, sound, smell, taste and touch of the Ecogarden! All explorers will have their five senses put to the test by spotting colourful flowers, listening to the music of nature, smelling blooming flowers, “tasting” culinary plants and touching garden animals, all these and more! Mr and Ms Organs will make sure your five senses never go to rest in our wonderful Ecogarden!

Shake Shake!
Make your very own toy and learn more about sound! The little ones will make their own mini shakers to bring home while learning about simple Mathematics. For the primary school kids, find out more about the range of different sounds and effects that can be made using a variety of materials. It’s a craft which kids of all ages can try out!

Magic Eyes, Magical World!
Eyes are one of the most important organs that we use to see things and colours. Come join us as we explore a whole new world with our eyes using simple materials to create simple crafts! The little ones will make the coolest solar filter ever, while the primary school kids will get to paint with magic!

Sense-sational Science Show
Let us take you through a “sense-ational” journey as we learn how our senses help us to explore our amazing world!

Children’s Day Weekend Extravaganza

3 - 5 Oct 2014

City Square Mall

Mat Yoyo ‘Live’ On Stage and Meet & Greet
Time: 5pm
Come enjoy a special 20-minute live show featuring Yoyo and Yaya through an interactive song and dance performance. Yoyo and Yaya will be playing mini games with the audience over the Children’s Day weekend! Also, 40 exclusive Meet & Greet passes are available after each show, grab the chance to take a photo with Yoyo and Yaya.

Magic shows with Tricky Patrick & Uncle Jimbo
Time: 3 – 5pm
Laugh along with Tricky Patrick as he selects volunteers from the crowd to join him in performing tricks. Witness how he turns shredded paper into a hat, Superman’s brief or a funny boxer and make a bottle vanish into thin air! This will be followed with a special performance – ranging from storytelling sessions to dance and musical numbers – by the students of LEAP SchoolHouse, Genius R Us, Perfect Pitch and UBO Bilingual School. Award-winning magician Uncle Jimbo would then continue the fun with his special magic and puppet show to ensure you’ll be smiling the rest of the day.

Marine Fantasy at Northpoint

4 - 5 and 11 -12 Oct 2014

Northpoint, Level 1 Atrium

Experience an unforgettable time of fun-filled activities themed around underwater marine life and fun with balloons!

Spot the Flying Fish, 2pm & 6pm
Let the flying fish fascination begin! Be sure to drop by Northpoint to catch a glimpse of the Flying Fishes balloons. Be amazed by these giant lifelike balloons as they swim and glide through the air, totally mimicking a fish out of water! It will be a great deal of fun for the family!

The Magical Marina Show, 7pm
Have a blast at Northpoint and be entertained by Funny Baby at 3pm and Uncle Jimbo at 7pm. Indulge in the magical world of exciting tricks in the magic show and be amazed by the colourful and awesome balloon wizardry show! There will also be kids comedy and ventriloquist puppet act to keep everyone entertained!

Aquatic Balloon Giveaway, 4pm
Continue to have fun with balloons at Northpoint! Receive a FREE sculpted balloon when you spend $20!

Briny Balloon Sculpting Workshop, 3pm & 5pm
Be sure not to miss our Balloon Sculpting Workshop where kids get to twist and sculpt their own balloon and have a fun-filled session! To participate, simply spend $20. Limited to the first 30 kids only.

Saturdays@ACM - Supersized

4 Oct 2014; 1pm - 5pm

Asian Civilisations Museum

FREE Admission

Shake things up on two Supersized Saturdays! Embark on fantastical journeys to explore, discover, and create — fascinating performances, spellbinding storytellers, and be an artist for the day.

What's more - Meet Dora the Explorer and Diego! Stand a chance to win attractive Nickelodeon prizes too!

Mangrove Walk at Sungei Buloh

4 Oct 2014; 9.30am & 3.30pm

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

FREE

Free 1.5-hour guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves and enjoy views of the Johor straits. Suitable for young children. Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come-first-served basis.

Ben & Jerry’s ChunkFest 2014

4 Oct 2014; 2pm - 10pm

The Meadows @ Gardens by the Bay 

FREE Admission

Who can resist ice cream??? Bringing you chunks of fun, Singapore’s biggest ice cream festival comes back for the seventh year, with the backdrop of the iconic Gardens by the Bay. Take in breath-taking scenery under the sun and enjoy an ice cream picnic with a smorgasbord of 20 flavours to try! Taste the newly launched Core ice creams, exclusive flavours brought in from US for ChunkFest only and some of Singapore favourites. Enjoy euphoric carnival activities and also a moovie screening under the stars!

Art Rojak!

4, 11, 18 & 25 Oct 2014; 10am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm

The Playtent (180 Joo Chiat Road #02-01 S'pore 427451)

$10 per workshop

Art Rojak! Is a community initiative by The Playtent to introduce and make arts accessible to the immediate community. Choose from a plethora of workshops! From crafts to acting, design to music, traditional to digital arts & much more, each workshop is an hour long and costs $10! Pick and mix, have fun! For a look at the workshops available, visit HERE.

Port of Lost Wonder - BBQ Under The Stars

4 Oct 2014; 6.30pm - 9.30pm

Port of Lost Wonder, Sentosa

Adults $39 | Child $15 | FREE for Child below 5 yrs old

Experience the beauty of the Port at night, take a splash at the Pirate Ship, enjoy the cool sea breeze and the calming, rhythmic waves as you dine! Treat your taste buds to a delectable spread of starters, mouth-watering barbecued meats and sweet treats at our dessert bar! Cuddle as a family along our picnic grounds and catch a show under the stars! For tickets, visit HERE.

Razzle Dazzle U Picnic

4 Oct 2014; 5pm - 9pm

The Grand Lawn @ West Coast Park

NTUC Member: $20 per family of 5 | Public: $50 per family of 5

U Picnic returns with a ‘Razzle-Dazzle’ theme that promises ‘Food.Fun.Experience’ for your whole family! Besides stage performances and fringe activities, take part in activities like flying LED discs, Laser Light show, Glow in the Dark Experience, and many more! For tickets, visit HERE.

International A Acappella Festival 2014 Opening Concert

4 Oct 2014; 6pm - 8pm

Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, Botanical Gardens

FREE Admission

Come celebrate the wonder of the human voice during this annual month-long International A Cappella festival. The opening concert of the Festival will take place at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Performers include The Glue (Switzerland) as well as the TAS Children's Pop Choir, TAS Youth Voices and TAS Voices, NANU, Acappuccino, VocalBlends and many other guest artistes. Pack that picnic basket too!

Pedestrian Night on Orchard Road

4 Oct 2014; 6pm - 11pm

Orchard Road (between Scotts Paterson Junction & Bideford Junction)

FREE

From 4 October - March 2015, a section of Orchard Road will be a temporary pedestrian street between Scotts Paterson Junction and Bideford Junction, every first Saturday night of each month, from 6pm -11pm. And for its first edition on 4 Oct 2014, Tennis Pops Up @ Orchard Road (7.30pm to 9.30pm; between ION Orchard to Ngee Ann City, and Paragon to Tangs) will transform part of the iconic retail stretch into a tennis extravaganza and offer a wide variety of tennis related events and activities with the aim of introducing and promoting tennis as a sport for all – the activities are suitable for audiences of all ages and tennis proficiencies. Expect activities such as introductory tennis clinics, tennis themed game booths, live demo matches and even groove to performances by popular local acts such as Jack and Rai!

LEGO BRICKBUSTA 'Catch the Crooks'

4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 & 26 Oct 2014; 12pm - 8pm

Various Toys 'R' Us stores

FREE

Children aged 5 to 12 years old will get a chance to be real-life detectives, locate suspicious crooks and build their own LEGO City Police Car! Cadets that successfully complete both activities will stand a chance to receive a LEGO City Police poster signed by a team of LEGO designers. Event schedule as follow:

4 & 18 Oct 2014: Toys 'R' Us VivoCity
5 & 19 Oct 2014: Toys 'R' Us Forum
11 & 25 Oct 2014: Toys 'R' Us Tampines
12 & 26 Oct 2014: Toys 'R' Us Paragon
*All timings are between 12pm - 8pm.

National Geographic Channel Free Pet Shop 2014

4 & 5 Oct 2014; 12pm - 6pm

Big Splash @ East Coast Park

FREE

Featuring more than 100 dogs that will be up for adoption, the event aims to advocate dog adoption and foster better man-canine relationship. With fringe activities such as obedience training workshops, dog shows, and talks on topics like common behavioural problems and ailments, the event hopes to shed new light on dog ownership and the community surrounding it.

Sundays @ the Park

5 Oct 2014; 8am - 10.30am

Choa Chu Kang Park (Hardcourt) & 

Sembawang Park (Open space near NParks iKiosk)

FREE Admission

What better way to enjoy your Sunday morning with friends and family than to head down to a Community Park near you? With activities such as instructor-led Zumba, yoga and kickboxing, participants can expect an exciting morning filled with heart-pumping programmes! And the activities are FREE too!

Tropic Green - Jazz in the Gardens

5 Oct 2014; 5.30pm - 7pm

Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, Botanical Gardens

FREE Admission

Tropic Green features jazz and latin stars from Cuba, Japan, Mexico, USA, UK, Venezuela and Singapore.  Rich in harmony and rhythm, the performance features original compositions by the band leader, Susan Harmer.  This session also includes a surprise guest who will perform with the band!

MPH Books Sale 2014

3 - 6 Oct 2014

3 Oct: 3pm - 9pm | 4-6 Oct: 9am - 9pm

Singapore Expo Hall 6A

FREE Admission

Enjoy great savings across all English book genres at MPH Books Sale this Oct - from fiction, to non-fiction, to business, to cookery, to travel, to children’s books, and many more!

ArtScience Museum Open House

6 & 22 Oct 2014

ArtScience Musuem

FREE Admision

As part of the upcoming festivities in the month of October, ArtScience Museum is pleased to extend complimentary access to its exhibitions and workshops on 6 and 22 October. Visitors can visit two photography exhibitions, Annie Leibovitz A Photographer’s Life 1990 – 2005 and Flux Realities: A Showcase of Chinese Contemporary Photography and participate in a number of programmes, for free on the two public holidays – Hari Raya Haji and Deepavali. For more information on the exhibitions and complementing free public workshops, visit www.marinabaysands.com/museum.html.

The League Against Evil: A DC Super Heroes Exhibition

Now til 30 Nov 2014; Mon: 1pm - 7pm | Tues to Sun: 9:30am - 7pm

Singapore Philatelic Museum

FREE Admission for Singapore Citizens & PRs | Others: Adult $6 Child $4

To commemorate the milestone of BATMAN's 75th Anniversary, Singapore Philatelic Museum brings in the first and only DC Comics Super Heroes exhibition in Asia. Don't miss to see interesting collections on display such as DC Comic Super Heroes stamps from the museum's permanent collection, special issue of Singapore Post MyStamps on DC Comics and BATMAN, and the stamp artworks, as well as rare original comic art pages and collectibles on loan from collectors. Our experience HERE.

Fly with the Superheroes onboard Singapore Cable Car

Now til 31 March 2015

Cable Car Ticket Price: Adult: S$29 | Child: S$18 (3 to 12 years old)

Soar through the sky with Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern onboard Singapore Cable Car this June School Holidays and join them in battling The Joker to save the day! Read about my preview HERE. Fly down to www.flywithsuperheroes.com.sg for more information!

Hospital Land @ Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital

Media Invite

Ash and Ayd had a taste of what a day in a doctor's life entails last year and they absolutely loved it. Organised by Mount Elizabeth Novena, the 'Doctor for a Day' role-play program last year was such an awesome hit with the little people that it is back again this year... and with a brand new addition!

Besides letting the little ones having a little taste of what it is like to be a doctor, Mount Elizabeth Novena introduced ‘Hospital Land’, an educational carnival designed to let them to experience different medical specialisations other than a doctor.

Looking at the crowd, it was definitely a huge hit with kids and parents alike as well. This time around, Ale was old enough to join her older brothers for the one-hour long session and they all could not wait to get started. Especially Ayd!

The little medical professionals-to-be were shuttled through six stations, which allowed them to learn about the different occupations in a hospital such as an optometrist, a pharmacist, a radiologist, even a nutritionist.

Dispensing medications over a pharmacy counter, evaluating a friend’s eyesight and deciphering MRI scans - all in a day's work for the monkies and other kids!

What is the first thing that comes to mind when a hospital is mentioned? Scary place? Filled with sickly people? But a hospital is much more than that, as it is a place where medical professionals toil daily in a bid to cure and better the lives of people in need.

So it was heartening to see that Mount Elizabeth Novena had turned the hospital grounds into a somewhat non-threatening and fun environment where kids can learn more about the various daily work that goes within the hospital.

In addition, the monkies definitely learned that there is more to a hospital than just doctors. Other occupations are also important to the hospital, as how the badges - Nutritionist, Anaesthetist, Optometrist, Pharmacist, Radiologist and Surgeon - the monkies collected at the end of the session will show.

Unfortunately, the tickets for both 'Doctor for a Day' and 'Hospital Land' are fully sold out. However, there will be LIMITED slots available for walk-ins on the actual days, on a first-come-first serve basis. Registration for walk-ins will commence at 9.45am, with the last session of the day at 6pm.

But even if no tickets are available, Mount Elizabeth Novena has also set up various fringe activity booths in the lobby which are open to every child. Kids can get a quick hands-on lesson on First Aid and learn how to eat healthily while parents can even answer health questions to win a badge on behalf of their kids!

Great for kids aged between 4 and 10 years old, this unique carnival will no doubt teach them more about medicine and human anatomy in a fun and light-hearted atmosphere... as Ayd will demonstrate.

To stay updated on future editions of 'Doctor for a Day' amd 'Hospital Land', like Mount Elizabeth Novena's Facebook page!


Useful Information

Doctor for a Day
27 & 28 Sep 2014; 10am to 6pm
Registration Fee: $25/pax

Hospital Land
27 & 28 Sep 2014; 10am to 6pm
Registration Fee: $15/pax

*All online tickets are fully sold out. LIMITED slots available for walk-ins on the actual days, on a first-come-first serve basis.

Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital
38 Irrawaddy Road
Singapore 329563

Shopping (& Saving) from the Comfort of your Home

Advertorial

Shopping is functional, and I usually find it to be a chore because of that fact. I need underwear, so I go buy them. There's nothing exciting in that transaction. So while shopping when you have to spend money is boring, shopping when you realise you get to save loads of money - and use to it buy other stuff like uhm, more LEGO - can get a little more interesting.

Because if you don't already know, Taobao is THE online place to surf to for everything under the sun. You name it, they have it. And I do not mean only apparel, accessories or bags - they carry furniture, basins, toilet bowls and get this, even raw whole chickens!

Okay, so chickens are not exactly my idea of online shopping but the important thing is most of the online blog shops or the shopping kiosks at shopping malls get their stocks from Taobao nowadays and conveniently mark up the prices. So why not cut them out and get the stuff you want directly from the vendors in China?

Only problem is... not only is the entire Taobao website predominantly in Mandarin, the vendors do not ship internationally. To receive my items, I would have enlist a third party agent to coordinate payment and shipping. But which third party agent is the most reliable?

Headache much, no? 

Well, not if you use SGshop.

Priding itself as the most reliable Singapore online shopping platform and dedicated to provide reliability, safety, cost effective and outstanding service, SGshop is a locally-registered company that allows you to shop from Chinese e-shopping websites, like Taobao, at wholesale prices BUT IN ENGLISH!

So yes, whatever you can find on Taobao, you can find it on SGshop.

To get started, just search for your desired item on SGshop column at the top of the page or through its extensive product list. Alternatively, you can do your search on any chinese e-site, copy and paste the item's URL in SGshop's search column.

Since Ale's birthday is round the corner, the wifey and I decided to take the opportunity to make a bulk purchase of items to stuff in her birthday's goodie bags for her friends in nursery school. And look what we found!

A combo pack consisting of a Frozen wallet and watch! On top of telling the time, the watch also projects an image of Anna and Elsa on the wall... and ALL these, for S$1.44 for one pack. THAT IS INSANE! I shudder to think the price I will have to fork out if I were to purchase this pack from a retail shop here.

As for the boys in Ale's class, we found the equivalent in the form of Cars which was also retailing for S$1.44 per pack. These obviously went into our shopping cart in a heartbeat.

Once we were satisfied with our items, we headed to our SGshop shopping cart, reviewed our items and placed our order!

For SGshop, there are 2 levels of payment: the first being the payment of the cost of the items ordered, and shipping costs within China, if any (this cost is usually absorbed by the retailer). The second payment is initiated when the items reach Singapore and consists of  international Shipping charges, service fee and local delivery charges, if any.

Payment-wise, there are various modes available - PayPal, eNets and Credit Card. Do note though, that service fees are chargeable as seen below.

To save on the merchant fees, I recommend making payment using your account balance. This is done by first doing inter-bank transfer from your bank account to your SGshop's credit account. There is no fee involved, but the credit is not immediate as SGshop will need time to verify the transfer. However, the verification is done within 24 hours and an SMS acknowledgement will be sent to you once the money has been successfully credited.

Oh, and we also had to choose the method of shipping before making the first payment. There are a few options available with the fastest being Express Air (1-2 working days) and the slowest being Sea Shipment (12-16 working days). I chose Economy Air, which meant my items will take 3-5 working days to reach Singapore.

What is Special Air? It also took 3-5 working days but is for more special items like electronics. So yes, our order (it had watches) fell into this category and it was through this that I had the opportunity to encounter SGshop's customer service.

A day after placing my order, I received a call from a customer service officer (CSO) from SGshop informing me that because my items contained electronic items, I had to ship my order via the more expensive option (Special Air). A cheaper alternative would be through Sea Shipment but that would take 8-12 working days. I then requested the CSO to check with the China Vendor how heavy would the shipment be to weigh my options. Less than 2 hours later, I received a call and was told that the total weight of my order will come up to approximately 2kg. I gave the go-ahead to use Special Air and that was it.

Personally, I loved that everything was settled without me having to actually liaise with the China Vendor directly... especially since he/she probably would not be able to converse in English fluently. Convenience FTW!

About one week after I had placed my orders, I received an SMS notification that my items have reached SGshop's warehouse in Singapore! And this was where I had to make my second payment for the shipping fees which can be seen in detail HERE.

As delivery or collection, there are four options: Advanced Delivery or Budget Delivery are payable while MRT Collection or Self Collection are free of charge.

I opted for Self-Collection at SGshop's waerhouse which was at Ubi. Finding it was a breeze, and ditto for the collection process.

And just like that, I have my order items in my hand!

Back home, guess who was the one who could not wait to rip open the packages?

To be honest, I had fully expected that some of my purchased items would not reach me, or that there would be missing or defective items. But you know what the shocking truth was? Every item reached me in good condition! All thanks to SGshop's free inspection of all items done at its China warehouse.

In the end, the overall charges (inclusive of shipping charges) came up to about $2.80 per combo pack which in all honesty is still dirt cheap!

I do feel that the shipping and delivery charges are on the high side though, but I guess this is offset by the many benefits that comes with shopping on the SGshop platform:

• Convenience: The easy-to-use order system means that I can search for items in English, and communicate with English-speaking SGshop staff compared to Chinese vendors.
• Peace of Mind: The SGshop staff in China checks all items for defects before sending them to Singapore from their Guangzhou warehouse. If there are any defects found during inspection, the items will be sent back to the seller for a free exchange or full refund.
• Free parcel combination: Orders will be consolidated into a single shipment, and items repacked so as to reduce the size and weight of the parcel.
• Great customer service: In addition to SMS notifications regarding money top-ups, problems with orders, and arrival of items in Singapore, I had a first-hand encounter with SGshop's customer service team for my delivery issues and I was impressed with its efficiency and response time.

I have to admit, my first experience in ordering items from a China e-site turned out much better that I anticipated. Everything was relatively fuss-free... and I highly suspect the wifey is already eyeing MORE loots from Taobao via SGshop!

To get started and let you fingers do the shopping, visit www.sgshop.com now!