Free Printable Halloween pattern worksheet

Made my first attempt at creating a Halloween worksheet. 

Hope you have fun with your kiddos!

 

Home made playdoh for toddlers

Do you know that you can homemade your own playdoh? non-toxic and safe for children

No Cook Play Dough Recipe

• 3 cups sifted flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• Food Colouring (optional)

1. Mix the dry ingredients together
2. Add the oil
3. Slowly add water to the dry mixture
4. Check for desired consistency as you add the water
5. Knead the dough until it is smooth
6. Store the dough in an airtight container in the fridge

I have tried this recipe and it works just fine, Depending on your countries humidity, it may turn out differently. (add you might have to add more or less water) I find the dough a little grainy due to the salt particles but over time, the particles melt whilst kneading.

If you put it into a fridge, the dough might dry out, so as and when, add some water into your dough mixture so it can be kept for a longer time.

Crayola Kids washable paints for toddlers (2 years old)

I recently bought some Crayola Washable Kids' Paint for crafts.

They came in individual containers like this. and has 10 pretty colours!

First I quizzed K on the colours, when she got them right, I will pour a manageable amount out onto a piece of recycled cardboard paper in the position that she has requested it to be.

Next I give her the freedom to do her our artwork. Either with a sponge or her hand =X 

Messy!

 And some recycled bottle caps as well. You will realise that I love to use recycled materials for children's crafts as I can easily throw them away without any heartache at the end of the activity.

I also did some butterflu crafts with her, in which, I place the paints at various locations on the recycled paper and fold them into half so that the paints will be symmetrical on the opp side.

This is the product of the butterfly craft that we did.

Some drying needed before it can be further used.

I didn't want to waste the paintings that were done, and since teacher's day was nearing I thought why not give it as a gift to the teachers.

They would appreciate it a lot especially when it was hand made by K herself.

I created some cards for teachers' day... 

and up-cycled the artwork that she had done and gave it to the teacher.

 And they loved it!!!!

Think of how you can reuse the materials you have and up-cycle them for special occasions!

Furball sorting game with toddler ( 2 year old )

I recently bought some furry balls from tao bao ezbuy. It was a pack of mixed colour of furry balls of different sizes.

My intention of these balls were to use them as crafts for the upcoming Christmas on Christmas cards(?) undecided!!!

So since it was sitting in my storeroom for a short while, I thought of this game that I could play with K (2yo).

I took out a few Ikea bowls of various colours and asked her sort them accordingly by colour and asked her to name the colours.

This activity can probably last about 10-20mins depending on your tods concentration  or easily they get bored over the same repetitions.

When the sorting activity was over, she was tasked to create some christmas cards for her school teachers.

First some double sided dots were placed in the shape of a christmas tree, next, using the furballs that she has sorted, she would have to fill the christmas tree with as much furballs as possible.


This is the final product!



These glue dots doesn't hold the furballs well! A regular glue didn't work very well either.
I would suggest if you are doing this activity to use a glue gun instead of glue dots.

Bridal packages and Hotel Packages (Singapore)

I wrote this email for a buddy of mine who is getting married soon and I thought I would just share this out as well.


There are lots of bridal studios and hotels out there. But which one is best suited for your pocket so as not to overspend before your honeymoon?

There are some pointers to look out for when you get the packages.

Bridal Package

1) Ask for the dress to be use both during your photoshoot and your actual day. 

Most studios based overseas eg taiwan does not include your actual day dresses. You will have to separately source for your actual day gowns and it means extra cost to you.  

2) Ask for Make-up artist for BOTH the photo shoot and the actual day (day and night)

This can be easily arranged if the studio is based in Singapore. However, same as point 1, if the studios are based overseas, you would have to source for the make-up artist on the actual day.

3) Ask for a make-up artist or an assistant to help you

During the photo shoot, it would be best if they have someone like a make-up artist or her assistant who can follow you through the process. She will be needed especially for touch-up and changing of gowns as the groom will not be able to help especially when you change at the public toilets. I've seen brides change by themselves in a public toilet near the beach and they almost cry.=~(

4) Mini albums 

The photo package might include some small albums . If you think that they are not neccessary, ask if you can exchange it for get extra photos instead

5) Portraits

Portraits might be included in the package as well- those that you are supposed to put in your master bedroom above your headboard. But in my opinion, in this day in age, no one actually need those anymore. If you think that it is not necessary, ask for extra photos instead.

6) EXTRA photos

The main thing about the photoshoot are the photos. Usually , you will be given about 30-35 photos. if you don't want certain items like point 4 and 5, ALWAYS ask for extra photos. Why? If you are getting your 36th photo onwards, you have to pay for it! 1 extra photo can cost up to $80-120 !!! Anything that you do not fancy in the package, ask for extra photos!! 30-35 is never enough when you have lotsa scenary shots.

7) Charge for scenes per page on albums

I'm not sure if it will apply to the studio that you will be getting but just keep this in mind and check when you buy the package. example if you take 10 scenes from different places, 1 scene usually takes up 2 pages (up and right page, 1 landscape) . Ask up front if you are getting the 30-35 photos but has like 12 scenes, will you be charged for the extra pages that they have to add for the scenes to be in the book. ps. I had to pay for this =(

8) Digital copies

Get the softcopy for every photo that you have chosen they will be giving tgt w the package. You can always use this softcopy and make a (cheaper) portrait outside the studio.

9) Indoor / Outdoor package

If your budget is within the range of an indoor photoshoot, ask if you could remove point 4 and 5 and ask for outdoor shots (that's if you love the outdoors)

10) Jie Mei Dresses and Xiong Di tux

Bargain for your jie meis dress and bros tux as well. Have the number jiemeis and bros in mind before you get the package. If you can't decide yet, get as many as you can bargain for first. More better than less ya? ...if not you would have to pay more to rent them later on.

11) Photographer n Videographer

Ask if you could also get Photographers and Videographers on the actual day. It can actually set you back by 3k if you are getting them separately. 

Most important note: 

When you get your photos, make sure you keep within the 30-35 photos that they gave (or the amount you have bargain for) TRY NOT TO EXCEED YOU AGREED NUMBER.

I have friends spend an extra 3k-7k for the extra photos. That's on top of the bridal package cost of about 3k. 

That's 6k -10k spent! $$$

Hotel Package

1) Work within your budget

I'm sure you saw this list before on Singaporebrides.com . 

http://singaporebrides.com/wedding_banquet_pricelist.php

But make sure you work within your budget. Don't overspend. I'm sure you have heard of a lot of stories about couples going into debt because it is a once in a life time occasion. Be rational and analyse your audience and crowd, if you think that they are unable to cover your cost, don't get a hotel that is too expensive. (but then again, don't also expect them to cover the cost for you. They came on goodwill to give you their blessings)

2) Special Diets

Do you have friends that are require a special diet ie. halal or vegetarians? Some hotels actually serve individual portions but some would need you to have a table of 10 Special diet (eg 10 halal meals) to serve. 

Cost wise, 10 people with Special diet sitting together is always cheaper than a 1 ala carte special diet. Why?

10 Special diet ppl =$1000 for example if 1 pax is 100, 

but 9 normal guest + 1 special diet guest can cost u $1100 (for the 9 normal) and +100 (for that 1 special guest)

So see if you get it at a fair to throw in for free- though its rare.

The other way to be cost effective is to group your special diet guests together.

3) Location

Make it convenient. If you are holding it offshore/ ulu location, your guest will likely be late and so will your banquet. Remember that transport might be difficult after wee hours at certain locations, so try to end your banquet earlier, if possible. 

4) Weekday or Weekend

Weekdays, guests will be late as they will usually come after work. 
Weekend sundays, guest might turn up early and leave early as well. Some would probably be leaving just after the phototaking  (dish 8 or so) as they have to work the next day. Try to start your banquet on time to prevent an empty ballroom at the end of the wedding.

5) Late charge

Ask the hotel if they will be charging you if the dinner runs late. They might have to pay for their manpower to cater for your delay. 

6) Alcoholic beverages

Ask for free flow beer and free bottles of wine with the package. It defers from hotel to hotel. Some might even allow you to bring your own duty paid liquor. But to be safe check with the hotel.

6) Pillars

Not sure if this will be important to you. But ask if there are pillars within the ballroom. Why? Pillars block the view of your precious guest when u are on stage and if they can't see it, will leave guest uninterested and might leave early =( Ask for the floor plan of the ballroom if this matters.

7) Size of Ballroom

Size of ballroom usually depends on the maximum number of guests that you want to invite. Usually the ballroom size is about 27 tables and up. There are hotels that only cater for 50+ tables up. So make sure you don't over commit to too many tables and not be able to meet the mininum number of guest. Also make sure that the ballroom size is not too tight for your guest as it can be very uncomfortable for guest going to the toilet or waiter/waitresses when they serve. Imagine their butt in your face? =O

8) Deco

Ask for the deco upfront (they might show you with an iPad) or if you have something in mind let them know. They might be able to cater. But if u don't like the pre-fixed deco , best if you don't go with the hotel as changing their deco can cost a bomb. esp flowers

9) Flowers/ Flower Petals

Some hotels I know actually provide extra flowers/ flower petals to be "thrown at you" for the special effects. If no, see if they can provide this for you for free or minimal charge

10) Menu

Example: no sharks fin, Is there other alternative? Do you like their choice of menu? If you are particular about the portioning, you might also want to consider whether guest will be served individually or on 1 big plate (depends on your preference)

Escape from the Werewolf Village- Real Escape Game (REG)

You might have heard of the game concept of players being locked in a room and they have to explore the surroundings and solve a few puzzles in order to escape. Such games requires players to be really observant and be good in analytical thinking skills in order to solve the puzzles and challenges in a limited period of time.

There are certainly more and more such game concepts coming up in Singapore like Lockdown.sg, Xscape Singapore and Real Escape Game .

The session that I went to was the Escape from the Werewolf Village hosted by  Real Escape Game .

It was a SAFRA halloween event.

A cute Halloween ghost was present at the SAFRA halloween event. =D

Back to the game...

Here's the trailer:



There was a SPH Razor TV feature on the game as well:



When you think about werewolves, it usually comes with the thought of Vampires and pack of werewolves, thanks to Twilight. haha~ but there is NO vampires in this game.

However, according to the rules, I'm not supposed to leak too much of the game information for the future participants to enjoy.

I will share a little about the game though.

We were grouped into teams of about 6. In my case, 3 pairs of strangers were grouped together.

When the game starts, it will be a mad rush of splitting the roles amongst us and exploring the room for clues and solving the puzzles. We were all first timers in this game but worked pretty well to get the puzzles solved. If we were stuck with certain puzzles, we rotate the puzzles for someone else to do (new brains, new  thought direction).

Honestly, the puzzles were tough, the time was short and it seems like everything was working against us. You can literally feel your adrenaline pumping throughout the game.

But in the end, we cracked each and every clue and with minor hints from the really nice and helpful facilitators. =D  There were about 8-9 groups in my session and only 1 team got to escape from the werewolf village. According to the reviews, only about 8% were able to solve the clues. How cool was that?

And here I end of with a victory photo of me and my teammates.

 Looking forward to "Escape from the Bank" REG

Trailer for Escape from the Bank:

My Birthday Celebration 2013

I recently celebrated my birthday this year.

I was contemplating on whether to take leave that day since it was my day afterall.
But with much persuasion from my hubby, I didn't as he was on course and there wasn't much to do by staying at home either.

First thing I received was a call to me to confirm my availability for a courier. I knew something wasn't right then when he asked me to go to work! haha~

It was a lovely set of 12-coloured roses in a banquet. Aww~~ this is the 2nd/3rd banquet I got from him since we were together for ~9 years.haha



And usually, it is not me to announce my birthday to the world except for my closer friends/colleagues, my colleagues got to know about it and celebrated it for me in the afternoon.







Such lovely colleagues right??!?!

For dinner plans, me and my hubby went to Madrina Pizzaria under a colleague recommendation for great pizzas.

Address:
Madrina Pizzaria
3 Queen's Road
#02-141

It is situated under a block of HDB flats in Bukit Timah and has a rundown outlook.

But don't be deceived by the looks of it, once you walk in, the place looks totally different. The restaurant has the look of an underground cellar. FULL of different brands of beer and alcoholic beverage.




The owner of the restaurant was really friendly and recommended us a Anker Boscoli for a sweet beer.
It is a fruit beer by Brewery Het Anker. It is a white beer with added natural fruit juices with 3.5% alcoholic content . It was very light and tasted great.

The owner told us the story of how he had such a vast range of beer. They started serving pizza and pastas a few years ago. He loved to drink so after the operating hours, he would stay in his shop with a bunch of friends to drink and only leave the store at about ~4am. And because of his love for beer, he decided to bring in more and more varieties to put in his store for his after hours drink. That was how the vast range came about. They are also now a supplier to different events that require a range of beer.

Back to the food...

We ordered a half and half pizza (meaning 2 different pizzas on the menu but just half of each on 1 pizza) and a pasta. So glad they have such an option for us to have 2 different pizzas in 1 (of course you top up ~$4 for this). The food is freshly made and over baked in an oven you can observe from the dining area.

THE FOOD WAS HEAVENLY! I'm honest! The best pizza I have eaten here in Singapore.

The pasta was an anchovies pasta. They were generous with the herbs, in which some of them I can identify is caper and rosemary. The rosemary stalks were FRESH not the dry bottled ones that we usually see in the supermarkets.

The pizza was thin crust with a-half beef salami and a-half pesto chicken. When you bite into the pizza, the taste of herbs,the warmness of the pizza lingers in your mouth and you crave for another bite.



I had a great birthday celebration this year.

In fact, I had a few other celebrations that my friends treat me to but I didn't take a photo of them due to my ever-so-hungry (greedy) nature. I tend to eat the food once it is served =( so no picture evidence =(