How to Receive Up to 9 Months Complimentary Netflix Subscription*!

I know many who have some form of love for TVs and shows.

We do too.  Though for the children, we often ponder what is good, what is forbidden, what is educational or if it just pure entertainment.  We do not restrict.  We simply manage.

If you are not aware, Netflix and Singtel partnered to bring its customers some good news.  By signing up or re-contracting with Singtel between now to 22 July 2016, you get to receive up to 9 months complimentary Netflix subscription.

Not a Singtel customer?  Simply enjoy one month free trial via Netflix subscription here, just like what we did!  Remember to cancel if you do not wish to continue after one month.  :)

For more details, visit www.singtel.com.sg/netflix.

We attended an afternoon of family fun with Singtel and Netflix at Amazonia Singapore and while the boys have fun, we got a first-hand look at Netflix and Singtel's comprehensive children and family programme.  And learn about how parental controls could be used to create a safe entertainment space for the children.

Children having fun with Amazonia's host.  

Netflix offers a variety of cartoon series such as the likes of Peppa Pig, Care Bears and Cousins, The Little Pony, Transformers: Rescue Bots etc..  There are also movies like the Kung Fu Panda which appeal to both adults and children.

B having a look at what is available.

Anne Wallin, Netflix's Senior Manager, Media Relations APAC, explaining how to set up and customise Parental Control options available on Netflix.

With Netflix Parental Controls settings, parents can block mature titles from being shown onscreen or added to your the instant queue feature.  There are a total of four maturity levels.



So, what's the correct amount of television for children?  I do not have the formula to it.  That is why I think maybe we should ask ourselves these exact questions that Netflix indicated and decide which category the children should fall under when we set up the Parental Controls.

Such fun when an event is organised at an indoor playground as the children will not feel bored while parents are being "educated".  

The 3D Glow Golf, a 9-hole indoor golf putting course, is something new to us.  

And what's a playground without a slide?  Nothing scary, it is a gentle slide suitable for 3 years and above. 

Kids love ball pits, don't they?

For children under 3, there is a toddler play area.  

Thank you Singtel and Netflix for inviting us to the Family Fun Day at Amazonia!

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Week in Life - A Blogger Mum

The alarm rings!  At 4.30am.

Yups, my alarm rings at 4.30am on weekdays when I need to be out of the house by 7am.  People often ask, 4.30am?! Are you kidding?!  Nope.  Alright, sometimes I snooze it and then wake up at 5.30am.

Weekdays are same same, but different everyday.  The same old wake up-go school-go work-home-cook-sleep.  But in between, different things happen.  

Every weekday is a rush in the morning.  The making of breakfast, especially now that D is in primary school, I ensure that he eats before going school.  This trait, I think I got it from my Mum and I thank her for all the breakfasts, amongst others, we have while schooling and even when we started work.

Some days, the breakfast is more elaborate.  Some days, there is only bread.  :D

Then it's all the, will you hurry up?  Sometimes it's just, hurry up!  I am guilty of it.  Not the perfect mum, of course.

Weekday nights are rushing home to cook.  These days, I try to cook at least 3 times a week.  Easy?  No, it's not.  I do whatever hecks I can (see here) and when I'm at my wits end, it's just one pot dish.  Sometimes the fridge is empty and I rush to the wet market, a 8 min drive on an almost empty road, at 5am.  So now you know why I wake up at 4.30am at times.

A fishy score at 5.20am.

Every other weekday nights like this make me pull my hair and makes me wonder why we do not have the work-life balance of Denmark.  When I have to coach the elder boy or give him his spelling and the younger asks or whines for attention.  Maybe because we have been the boys' main caregiver since birth (apart from the times they are in childcare), we are the ones to teach them, read them a book or two, play with them, discipline them, pat them to sleep and fall asleep with them (I do!  And most times I am in bed at 10pm, with them and then suddenly waking up at 1am).

That kinda covers most of my weekdays nights.

E was sick on Friday.  When I receive a call or a text from the childcare teacher, I cringe. Seriously.  This meant rushing off work and fetching him.  Being sick in the late afternoon is disliked as his regular doctor does not have a night clinic.  A blogging mum means if I have an event on a day the child falls sick, I have to absent myself or ourselves.  Nice?  No, I do not think so but a mum's got to do what a mum got to do.

And just this year, I decided to put some discipline to exercise.  Most if not all Sundays, you will find me at Bukit Timah with a group of friends, training endurance and fitness by doing the slopes of Bukit Timah Hill.

I wonder why weekends are so short.  Considering the fact that my children do not attend any tuition or enrichment for their academics, there is still never enough time.  In a blink of the eye, weekends are over and it's back to the daily grind.  

I am just like any other mums.  It's always family first.  I get to blog when I am alone, in trains (just like how part of this post is being drafted), while queueing, waiting or when the children are engrossed with their shows.  Time-sensitive sponsored posts are churned when the children are sleeping, although I do try to write them whenever I could.  And for that, I got to thank the hubs for it.  

The reason for blogging is simple.  To jot down the times with the children.  To share with those people who are interested a glimpse of our lives.  I will sometimes think too much (想太多） and wonder if one day, I will leave Earth without warnings.  This will then serve as a partial memory timeline for those living.

It's my birthday today!  D asks me how old I am.  I had to count and cannot believe that I am already 35.  The days are long, the years are short.  Indeed.  A blogging mum or not, birthday today or not, I am simply just another mum who wants the best for my children.  No, not just.  A mum is a powerful lady.  :)

And the hubs got me a 3TB HDD because the current one could no longer hold all the photos.  How practical, right?  

This post is part of a blog train by the Singapore Parent Bloggers this April.  You may find the links to what the other 29 blogging mums and dads have to say and share here.

Next up on the blog train is Jolin from The Js Arena.  Jolin is a blessed mother to a loving hubby and two adorable boys.  The Js Arena is where she captures and documents memories of her motherhood and parenting journey.  Join her tomorrow as she shares her week as a blogging Mom.

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The Great American Vacation at Changi Airport Terminal 3

Thinking of what to do this long weekend which is starting tomorrow?

Fear for the recent hot weather?

Why not head to Changi Airport Terminal 3 and explore The Great American Vacation?  And it's Free!

During a few hours there, we got to learn about some of the different states in USA.  While the older children and adults could discover what USA has to offer and some fun facts about USA, the little ones can go wild with the carnival rides*.

Can you guess which state this is?  

Pier 39 can now be found at Terminal 3 Public Area Departure Hall.  Catch a glimpse of it, together with some other states from now till 3 April 2016.

It is a joy to go on a carousel.  I am too heavy for it, obviously, as it is for children.  But adults can accompany their littlest child, just standing by the side.  

How many states in USA you think there are?  Do a count?

What's a carnival without food, right?

You will be glad to know that free candy floss, popcorn and California cheese sampling are available at the following timings:

Date: 25 - 27 March 16 and 2 - 3 April 16

- Free candy floss and popcorn (3 - 5pm)
- California cheese sampling (12 - 9pm)

And oh, there is also balloon sculpting between 7 - 9pm on the dates stated above.

And while the children are busy munching on their goodies, mummies and daddies can try their hands on the Harley-Davidon Motorcycle and experience a ride with the Gear VR!

D kept asking if Daddy can see him.  :P

The guy explaining the use of the Gear VR has to repeat the same instructions 1-to-1 to each individual.  I wonder how many times he has to repeat in a day.  So if you are there trying out the experience, be nice to him / her lah.

Children are allowed on the motorcycles for photo taking.   But the Gear VR experience is only for children 13 years old and above.

Do not let those photos go to waste.  Try your luck at the Harley-Davidson photo contest for a chance to win a Slim Fit Custom Harley-Davidson 3-in-1 jacket worth S$479!

At Basement 2 of Terminal 3 are the Galloping Horses and Train Rides.

The boys think the Galloping Horses are the best.  I wonder why.

Free face painting is available also at the basement area from 12 - 11pm on 25 - 27 March 16 and 2 - 3 Apr 16.

Though it was just 3 simple rides, the children enjoyed them.  With the hand painting they had, we left with a "when are we coming again?".

* Some of the pointers to note when redeeming the passes for the Carnival Rides which are operating on 25 - 27 March 16 and 2 - 3 April 16 from 12pm to 11pm.

- A minimum spend of S$60 in a maximum of 2 same-day receipts (S$40 for Changi Rewards members and Kids Pass holders, S$80 for all supermarket purchases) is required to redeem one carousel ride pass, one kiddy train ride and one galloping horse ride.

- Redemption starts from 12pm and ends at 10.30pm or when the activity passes are fully redeemed; whichever is earlier.

On a happier note, each activity pass admits up to two persons for a single play session!

For more information about The Great American Vacation at Changi Airport Terminal 3, please click here.

Thank you Changi Airport Group for the invite!

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Disney On Ice: Magical Ice Festival and Why You Should Go

On the night of a Friday, the Singapore Indoor Stadium was filled with lots of people.  Adults and children.  Princes and princesses.  All ready to catch the Disney Magic. 

Disney On Ice returns this year with the theme, Magical Ice Festival. 

Reasons why you should watch Disney On Ice: Magical Ice Festival:

1.  Debunking talks that Disney On Ice is only for children, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  The adults sitting beside me (with no children) were also clapping and getting all excited throughout the show.  It was a lovely performance by the ice-skaters.  Akin to figure skating, it is indeed a visual spectacle. 

2.  The show is a very good recap of all the 4 movies.  So, if you wish to be transported back to the times of watching those movies, this is it.  The significant parts, the famous songs.  One is sure to have flashes of the 4 movies.  But if you think you have not watched of the movies before, this is one that summarises all 4 of them into one 2-hour performance.

3.  If you have children, regardless boys or girls, they will love it.  The Disney magic is not known for nothing.  I see children engrossed with the performance, singing and some dancing.  Most of the songs are pretty well-known and we always hear the children singing out loud.  It is a moment when children can just be themselves and not be scrutinised by surrounding people for belting out loud those Disney medleys.

4.  Be thrilled by the well-timed pyrotechnics.  Need I say more?

Let us now take a look at some of what to expect at the show.

What's a performance without popcorn and candy floss, all in those I-want-to-bring-all-home containers and ware.  But be warned, they do not come cheap.  :D

Disney On Ice started with a bang with the likes of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy, introducing the different acts.

For a start, The Little Mermaid got us into the groove with songs like "Under the Sea".  A visual performance of the sea creatures, E was telling me the sea creatures he saw...

Can you tell who's next from the below silhouette?

Skaters performing as Maximus, the palace horse from the Disney movie Tangled impresses me.  How do two persons skate at the same time, especially with the back person's view compromised?

I have a love for Beauty and the Beast.  Do you?  

It's always a joy to see performers getting into the act, laughing, smiling, singing and dancing.

Each time the curtain draws, we are surprised.  The last act, which is the special appearances by characters of Frozen, literally made the audience go crazy.  That is how much Frozen is well loved by everyone, big or small. 

Olaf is here too!!!  Songs like 'For the First Time' and 'Let It Go' shook the whole place.

I love watching the moves by these characters.  They skate with such professionalism and grace, it makes me and maybe every little girl dream to be an ice-skater.

Lovely and cool isn't it?  I asked D.  If you have bought the Magic Moments tickets, there is a chance to get up close to the characters at the end of the show.

Ending on 20 March 2016, the last 2 shows will be at 11am and 3pm show.  If you have not bought any tickets, it is still available for purchase online at Sports Hub Tix.  

Watching a 7pm show and reaching home not that early, I can only say, "Some things are worth losing sleep "for"".  :)

Disclosure: We were invited to the Disney On Ice presents Magical Ice Festival.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photographs and opinions are true to my own.

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