IG Giveaway and review: The Plano Adventures Series

Singapore comes up top in many arenas but there is one top ranking statistic affecting our young ones which we shouldn’t be proud of – high rate of myopia.

Taken from www.healthhub.com.sg
Singapore is #1 in the world for the prevalence of childhood myopia in seven to nine-year-oldsThis is one Singapore statistic that we’d all like to change. Whether it’s because of all the studying children do, genetic factors, or lighting conditions, myopia is extremely common in Singapore.

Sadly, my kid is part of this statistic as well even though we have tried our best to prevent this his early years – controlled screen time etc. However we are unable to give him sufficient outdoor time due to our working hours etc.

Knowing this need and lack of such subjects in books locally and abroad, comes this wonderful series spearheaded by 3 individual of unlikely combination – a scientist, a former journalist and an illustrator – Dr Mo Dorani, Hwee Goh and David Liew.

Suitable for emerging readers (kids going into chapter books), The Plano Adventures follow the exciting adventures of Professor Plano as he defeats Lord Myopic. The first 3 books cover topics close to my heart like myopia or short-sightedness, device dependency and lack of outdoor activity.

The books have been written so that young children (at the age prone to myopia) can inculcate good habits to prevent or halt further myopia increase.

The one consistent message throughout this series which you will see it throughout  all the books in this series  – Professor Plano’s Clear Vision Recipe.

The first of the series is Trouble at Murktown. I love how Hwee Goh has simply analogises the vision of myopic kids with the use of fog created by Lord Myopic ie the inability to see clearly.With the help with a pair of adorable twin sidekicks – Zed and Zee, Prof Plano was in a mission to pick up his Clear Vision potion to defeat Lord Myopic. Follow their adventures on how they finally defeated Lord Myopic in this first book.

The second books broaches the topic of promoting outdoor activity where Prof Plano and his twin sidekicks try to save a flight of sickly, grey dragons after spending too long hours using their Bottle-Bottle screen (too much device and screen time). Hence the trio once again rush to find Ray Keepers to save the dragon.

The third book of this series which the latest to be published is The Never-Ending Game which tackle another subject close to my heart topic- tackling gaming addiction.

If my kids can have their way, they would be playing electronic games  without no sense of time. Lord Myopic has created a massive game that every kid is addicted to playing that there is no one is in the playground. Even one of the twins is hooked on the same game! Follow how Professor Plano defeat Lord Myopic once again.

The final two books of this series (not out yet) will tackle topics such as cyberbullying and reduce device dependency which are slated to be out in early 2019.

I love that this series has brought across serious topics to the level of young kids in a simple and easy to follow stories. I doubt there is any foreign and local kids books which tackle such topics.

The beautiful illustrations by David Liew made the adventures even more exciting!

In fact, you can meet the author, illustrator and Professor Plano himself on this Satutrday, 1 December at Kinokuniya, Takashimaya from 2 –  3pm for a story telling session and autograph signing session.

The Plano Adventures books can be found in all major bookstores, retailing at S$11.22 before GST.

Giveaway

Hwee Goh, the author has generously sponsored the same set of the first 3 published books of The Plano Adventures to 1 lucky reader.

1. Like and follow FB page –  mypreciouzkids.com and Hwee’s Book Share Club

2. Follow mypreciouzkids and Hwee Goh on Instagram

3 Tag 3 or more book loving friend in this IG post.

I will be picking the 1 lucky winner using random.org. The giveaway closes on 9 Dec 2018 2359pm (Sun)

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.  No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Winner on IG:  katherinegoy


Share the article
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Off-the-beaten track kids friendly places in KL and Singapore with Traveloka

photo credit: Asia Travels

Kuala Lumpur is typically not viewed as the one of the more favoured destinations for family holidays but I will prove you wrong with a list of not so well-known places for kids of all ages. I think it is pointless talking about those that are famous and the must go places, such as Kidzania KL, Sunway Lagoon and Petrosains so I think this will be a list of out for the ordinary for families who are looking for something different, probably for families who has done the usual and popular looking for a different perspective of the city in the eyes of their kids.

1.Farm in the City

This is a gem in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city especial for animal and nature lovers. It is a good size farm which boast a free-flight bird aviary, reptile cavern, a lake with a good population of ducks, a pet village of rabbits and guinea pig, longkang fishing , ostrich farm, turtle and tortoise farm, vegetable farm and an orchard with more than 60 tropical fruits and plant. Not forgetting the stars of the farm, the alpacas at the savannah. Kids can also indulge in feeding the animals at the pet village or fish feeding at the lake.

Lot 40187-40188, Jalan Prima Tropika Barat, Bandar Putra Permai, Seri Kembangan,

43300 Selangor.

WEEKDAYS: 10:00am-6:00pm
WEEKENDS: 09:30am-6:00pm
Closed on every Tuesday, excluding Public holiday & school holiday.

2. Jurassica

Located at the Gardens Mall in the middle of the city, we stumbled upon a unique playground and edutainment centre during our last visit to KL. For dinosaur lovers, Jurassica is the latest edutainment centre-themed around the dinosaurs and prehistoric era. Complete with pretend play concept, the kids are all suited up like explorers and were ushered into briefing room to inform them of the mission. Each kid was given their own torch light as the place was a bit dim to begin their neon light scavenger hunt. Besides doing the hunt, there is also an interactive climbing wall, zipline, excavation site and a good size ball pit and play gym at the end.

The place also run sessions where the kids get to meet their own in house reptiles. They can also get to touch and hold the reptiles esp for the daring ones.

T216C, 3rd FloorLingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City,

59200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan,Kuala Lumpur.

Mon – Thu: 11am – 7pm

Fri – Sun: 10am – 8pm

LAST ADMISSION

45 mins before closing time

3. District 21

This was one of the places that is on my to-do list but I have yet to explore with the kids partly due to height requirement. My oldest can do most of the challenges there however,I guess my youngest would not meet most of the requirement there. But this place is definitely the first on my to-do list on my next visit. It is located in IOI City Mall in Putrajaya , yes it is an indoor adventure style theme park for the dare devils and adventurous kids.

The place boasts white-knuckle rides, slides, trampolines and aerial obstacle courses all within the confines of a 70,000 sq ft space. The major attractions are trampoline, tubby rides, maze, free fall, roller glider , sky trails – all featuring different level of difficulties and height requirement. There is a also a carousel for the young ones like my youngest child.

pic credit: District 21

pic credit: District 21

AT6, Level 1, IOI City Mall
Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia 62502

Operations Hours & Ticket Price
Active Ticket:
Weekdays (Mon-Fri) – 12pm to 8pm , RM64 per pax
Weekends, PH & School Holidays – 10am to 8pm , RM80 per pax

Non-Active Ticket : RM10 per pax

All active ticket holders are COMPULSORY to wear SPORTS SHOES.
Minimum height : 90cm
Minimum weight : 15kg

4. AirRider

Located at One Utama shopping mall, kids can experience skydiving indoor. It is also KL’s first indoor skydiving wind tunnel. The indoor skydiving centre which simulates the free-falling aspect of skydiving but without having to parachute off a plane. And what makes it a perfect family bonding activities is that even kids as young as 3 can try their hand at skydiving under the watchful supervision of skydiving experts.

While the mums go for the endless shopping trip at One Utama, the kids and daddies can indulge in new type of sports – skydiving, right in the middle of the shopping centre! That is my latest plan to ditch the kids and yet the kids get to enjoy a new experience right in the middle of the shopping mall!

photo credit: AirRider

S601, 1 Utama E, 1 Utama Shopping Centre,
1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama,
47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan,
Malaysia

Operation Hours:

Monday – Thursday 10:00AM – 10:00PM
Friday & Saturday 10:00AM – 10.30PM
Sunday 10:00AM – 10:00PM

5. Skytrex Adventures

This is District 21 but in the outdoors. I wont say it is entirely similar but it is also for the dare devils and adventurous kids. Located 3 km inside the 817 hectares forest of Taman Botani Negara Shah Alam, this park is only 40 minutes drive from the city center of Kuala Lumpur and is accessible via the many highways to Shah Alam.

Obstacles are divided into three courses according to difficulties, and the minimum height requirements are 1.1m (Little Adventure) and 1.4m (Big Thrill and Extreme Challenge). These zip line obstacle courses consist of extreme outdoor activities such as rope climbing and flying fox in the middle of the lush forest of Shah Alam Agricultural Park. Kids below 12 years of age require a parent or guardian to be present in order for them participate for safety reasons.

photo credit: Skytrex

photo credit: Skytrex

Taman Pertanian Malaysia, Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam, Shah Alam, Selangor
Tuesdays to Fridays
First Departure: 0900h
Last Departure: 1400h

Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays*
First Departure: 0830h
Last Departure: 1500h

photo credit: Visit Singapore

Singapore on the other spectrum seems to have endless fun for the family and kids. I will introduce places off the beaten tracks that will thrill any kids and see another side of Singapore.

In Singapore we also have the must do and must try on first visit -Universal Studio Singapore, Kidzania Singapore and of course the world famous Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari. We have more than this in Singapore.

1.Ground-up Initiatives

A non-profit community located  on a low-carbon footprint community campus at a plot of land in Yishun. Named Kampung Kampus, GUI aimed to be role model for sustainable living and nurturing an eco-conscious community.

Do look out for their calendar of events , link here where they have various harvesting activities for kids and adults especially during the school holidays. They are also organised wood-working session where the kids can make toy car, wooden boat, toy house in addition for the regular harvesting session. In fact, they will be organising overnight 2d1n family camp this school holidays, more details here.

 

91 Lorong Chencharu (Yishun) Singapore 769201

2.Thow Kwang Pottery

My kids were first introduce to pottery and wheel throwing at Bali during our vacation. Once back from our holidays, I went in search for something similar for the kids in Singapore, and I found a gem in a remote part of western Singapore, Thow Kwang Pottery.
What makes this place extra special as it housed the oldest, surviving dragon kilns in Singapore owned by Tan family since 1965. They have been actively promoting pottering, the art of wood-firing in addition to the conducting educational tours and pottery workshop for school, public and of course for kids.

We had our taste at wheel throwing and clay making 2 years ago and we brought home our creations a momento to our memorable pottery session. You can sign up for their kids workshop here. To special mention, that the place is so rustic and natural, you feel like you are not in Singapore for the time you are there.

85 Lorong Tawas Singapore 639823

9am – 5pm daily

Open on ALL Public Holiday except for Chinese New Year

3. Forest Adventure

Just like the Skytrex in Shah Alam, we also have something similar , though not as big and rustic as the one in Shah Alam. Located at Bedok Resorvoir Park, this is one of my kids’ favourite activities (my personal favourite too for the kids) as it is all outdoor, healthy and fun! We have been to Forest Adventure many times especially when kids are on their school holiday. Complete with various challenges and obstacle courses, once the kids complete a round, they get to do the zipline too!

Do note that there is height requirement. They have 3 different courses – Grand Course, Junior Course and the Kids Course to choose from , dependent on height and age as well. Minimumly you need to be 1.1m and 5 years old to try the Kids Course.

4.Ifly

Like the AirRider, we also have an equivalent in Singapore , located at Sentosa. However the age requirement is pretty strict, hence you have to cross your 7th birthday before having a go at indoor skydiving in Singapore.

As mentioned in Air Rider, the wind tunnel replicate the free-fall experience like in a real sky diving but in a safer and contained environment. I wouldn’t dare to attempt sky diving but I have attempted Ifly myself. Trust it was a quite surreal experience personally so when my eldest turn 7, I of course let him have a go! As always you are in the good hands of expert sky divers during the sessions and they can bring you “fly” really high up there too!

43 Siloso Beach Walk #01-01 Singapore 099010

Mon, Tue, Thu -Sun

9:00am – 9:30pm
First Flight: 10:00am
Last Flight: 9:30pm

Wed

11:00am – 9:30pm
First Flight: 12:00pm
Last Flight: 9:30pm

5. Singapore Wake Park

For sporty kids raring to try a new sport, you can try wakeboarding. Located at East Coast Park, it is Singapore’s only cable-ski park built in a lagoon.  It is not only for experienced riders, but beginner including kids as young as six year old can have a try at wakeboarding. It boast one full size-cable system for experienced riders and two straight-line System 2.0 for beginners and intermediate riders. It is a perfect place for family bonding and team building events too!

We had a beginner lesson both myself and my girl and we had wet and wild time last year. What I particular loved about this beginner lesson was that this sports also teaching you never to give up despite falling many times upon failure to balance on the wake board.

1206A East Coast Parkway,
Singapore 449891

Mondays to Fridays: 10am to 9pm;

Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays: 9am to 9pm

There you go, all my recommended kids friendly places in KL and Singapore (many tried and tested by my kids) just in time for the start of the school holidays, not the typical and popular ones but the fun you get trust me is no less than those! Especially if you are planning a trip to KL , I hope you can see KL has a family friendly destination with lots to offer. You can also book your cheap flight tickets for the Kuala Lumpur to Singapore flights competitively at Traveloka.  Compiling up this list really makes me want to make a trip to KL soon.


Share the article
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Beautiful bloom from Little Flower Hut for all occasions

In my work calendar , October is the WORST month of the year. It is the month for budgets and as my company’s Asia HQ is in Hong Kong, this means I have to make frequent trips to HK. To make it even worst, October is also the month for primary school examinations. I don’t think there is any month when I can be so swamped  with both work and kids’ academic needs , just like the saying goes, wake me up with October ends!

October is also a month of birthdays – both my in-laws and my mum, we gave a treat to my in laws shortly before my October madness started but my mum’s birthday falls on 18 October which was in the middle of the busy period. I didn’t manage to get anything for her at the HK’s airport and the timing couldn’t be more perfect when Juan from Little Flower Hut offer me a bouquet for any coming celebrations or occassions.

They have a very good selection of bouquet, premium or even inexpensive bouquets below SGD 50. They also have baby hampers, grand opening flower, balloon delivery, fruit baskets and many more and it promises free same day delivery (order before 4pm).

 

I was very tempted to get my mum the birthday flower which I thought was very innovative (major hint for hubs!), but maybe a tad too young for my mum.

So Juan suggested their new range and I must say it is very classy and lasting! The bouquet of roses has the most beautiful pinkish purple hue , a colour that I have not seen before and it came in a reusable square glass vase.

my mum and her two youngest of her grandchildren -small J and small C

Kudos to that efficient delivery service, my order arrived just on time for my mum’s birthday. You can check on their free same day delivery service, and the ordering can be done via this link

Thank you Little Flower Hut for providing a memorable birthday gift for my mum. I don’t think my mum has been receiving flowers for many years and true enough, flowers are forever favoured by ladies irregardless of age 🙂

Little Flower Hut

Website

Instagram

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.  No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.


Share the article
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail
This entry was posted in product.

Giveaway and Review -Kid Normal series

I was and still am a book worm (more e-books now as it is easier to borrow and read but not for the kids ), but of course motherly duties and K-drama has overtaken my love for books. Nothing makes me happier to see my kids buried in books. However, they are very picky with genre and titles that they read. If they read something they like they will be very engrossed ,vice versa. So one way is to bring them to the library and have them choose …though they may have chosen uninteresting titles too. They were most excited to receive the recent loot from Pansing Books which featured very interesting titles.

KID NORMAL

YOU DON’T NEED SUPERPOWERS TO BE A HERO

 

Big J’s review of Kid Normal series 

The story is about Murph Cooper moving to a new house. When he moved to the new house, he was enrolled into a school of superheroes by mistake.  His friends can do very magical things like control the weather and conjure tiny horses from thin air, but Murph did not have any special ability. They had weird teachers like Mr Flash and Mr Souperman. Even with no superpower ie Kid Normal which is Murph, he makes the best of things and is even the leader of a super hero team. One day, a scientist experiment went wrong and created Nektar who is half man and half wasp. Murph and his friends finally defeated Nektar with the help of the school’s caretaker and secretary of the principal.

I like this book because it is very interesting that a normal kid like Murph can be a super hero too.  I think the illustrations throughout the book makes the book even more exciting to read. I also loved the part they were battling the enemy which was a climax of the story.

KID NORMAL #2 AND THE ROGUE HEROES

In the second book – Rogue Heroes, Murph Cooper and his friends has completed their first year at the school. Murph, Hilda, Nellie, Mary and Billy continued on their adventures as Super Zeroes to battle even more evil bad guy. Following the same theme, all of them work together as a team in their missions from the very start and battled the most dangerous super-village (Rogue Hero) which was even more exciting that the first story. The villain actually ask for Kid Normal to be brought to him.

I love the second book more as the plot was even more interesting with a more evil villain with more missions to do and  more villains to fight! I hope there is also Kid Normal #3 for more Super Zeroes’ adventures.

This series is suitable for age 8+.

The books featured are available at any good bookstores.

Do follow the social media accounts below to see new recommendation and giveaways.

Facebook

Instagram

Giveaway

Pansing Books has kindly sponsored the same 2 books from the Kid Normal series and a magnetic bookmark to 1 reader.

1. Liked FB pages of mypreciouzkids.com and Definitely Books

2. Followed mypreciouzkids and Definitely Books on Instagram

3. Like and share this FB post and tag 3 book loving friends (or more).

I will be picking the 1 lucky winner using random.org. The giveaway closes on 23 Sept 2018 2359pm (Sun)

FB winner :Imelda Ong

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.  No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.


Share the article
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Giveaway : Brush Monster – a revolutionary AR toothbrush that all kids love!

I had my fair share of trial and errors with electrical toothbrush and even one with music, but it didn’t sustain their interest and the amount of time needed for a decent brush.

But it has all changed now with the introduction of Brush Monster in our lives. Even my very skeptical husband also was in awe that the kids follow step up step to ensure a clean brush every night – more than 3 minutes of brushing (if you find it a tad too lengthy, there is a setting in the apps where  you can remove the first and final part of the process ie the toothpaste and gurgling part)

At first glance

It is the lightest smart toothbrush in  the market weighing at a mere 32g. It uses anti bacterial soft brush which makes it safe for kids brushing. It comes with a few different vibration mode to choose from.

And what makes this toothbrush extra special is the built-in sensor which can track and analyze the data of kids’ brushing within 16 regions via Bluetooth.

At first use

Just download the app (for both Apple and Android phones) , and switch the bluetooth on your mobile (there is no need to pair), and follow the brushmonster apps guide when it informs you push the power button on toothbrush.

You should be able to stop the video by pressing the button on the toothbrush. This way you know that the toothbrush has been paired to the app in order to produce the tooth-brushing analysis at the end.

What I really love

The apps has a step by step plus visual to guide the kids throughout the entire tooth brushing process..all the way to gurgling and rinsing of cup. I tested this on all my kids (age 3 to 9 – yes I know the 9 is a tad old but he truly love using it too) and the ones above 5 were able to follow the steps quite effectively (I get pretty good analysis thereafter)

Only my 3 year who did his very best to follow all the positioning but due to his maturity, it is best for parents to help the younger ones. That said, ever since I started using Brush Monster with small C, he could sustain the entire duration of more than 3 minutes. Pre-Brush Monster days, he wouldn’t even last half a minute!

Next, once the brushing is down, you can see an analysis of your brushing , which part was good and which part was not. As you can see those in yellow are the parts that the kid didnt do so well in brushing – typically the inner part of the teeth and the back areas.

And after every brush, they will get a new sticker and they can take a selfie to mark their achievement for that day! I always get their best smile to show off their clean teeth!

My kids have been using Brush Monster for a few weeks and their interest has remained high. Every night, they will ask for their Brush Monster. What I really love out this is that for my older two kids, I don’t even need to supervise their teeth brushing and I could do a quick check on both the app and their teeth after they are done!

Recently, I discovered that you can have it changed to Chinese or even Korean! So now I had it in Chinese for my “potato” kids -see the video below.

You can purchased the full set (Brush Monster Toothbrush x1  -Brush Monster Replacement Refill x1 -Brush Monster Phone Holder x1) at an introductory price of SGD 84.90 which comes with a 2 year warranty and just the tooth brush only which retails at SGD 74.90.

Do quote mypreciouzkids10off for a 10% discount off the introductory price.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Brush Monster Singapore has kindly sponsored a Brush Monster worth SGD 79.90 (retail price) to 1 reader.

photo credit: Brush Monster

1. Liked FB pages of mypreciouzkids.com and Brush Monster

2. Followed mypreciouzkids and Brush Monster on Instagram

3.Comment in this IG post why you want to win this revolutionary AR toothbrush from Brush Monster.

4. Repost publicly with #mypreciouzkidsgiveaway and comment on the same IG post (tag 3 friends or more, one tag per comment).

5. Subcribe to mypreciouzkids on youtube (bonus point)

I will be picking the 1 lucky winner using random.org. The giveaway closes on 16 Sept 2018 2359pm (Sun)

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.  No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.


Share the article
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Review: Cloud storage with D-Link’s HD 180 Degree Wireless Camera DCS-8100

The good folks at D-link provided me another wi-fi camera for review together to be used together with mydlink apps (so that i can monitor both of primary school going kids at the same time!). This is targeted more for indoor usage but still boast most of the awesome features of the DCS 2670.

This model HD Wireless 180-degree camera DCS 8100 has been priced at more competitive priced of SGD 169, complete with a 180 degree angle and HD clarity, just like the earlier model I reviewed.  I won’t delve too much in its similar features as I have reviewed previously, but more on the key differences between the two models.

Similarly, there is also the microSD Card Slot  just like what you have in the DCS-2670 model. On top of the regular microSD card storage, DCS 8100 also support 1-day cloud storage through the mydlink apps. I particularly love this feature as it does not require me to supply a micro SD and yet able to view the playback via the same apps. However, it is not a continuous recording but the recording will be triggered as and when there is motion or noise.

On days when I am so busy at work that I didn’t have time to take a quick peek, I would check on the playback to give me at idea at what times they are doing their work and what they are doing. The playback can be downloaded and see a sample of this below.

 

The other difference would be that  the DCS 8100 comes with a 2-way audio speaker where we can speak with each other via the camera.

a snapshot of the features

However, its resolution is at HD720 instead of HD 1080 (DCS 2670). I can’t tell much of its difference especially when it is not enlarged, can you? See picture below. Top pic is HD 1080(DCS 2670) vs bottom pic HD 720 (DCS 8100).

It is also super easy to install for a tech noob like me, just need a QR code – see the simple 4-step instruction. And the apps you can get it from here. Personally, I preferred this model as there is a 1 day cloud storage memory as compared the previous camera. However, everything else is pretty much equal from an indoor usage perspective.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wSw7B0uma8&feature=youtu.be

D-Link DCS-8100 retails at SGD 169 at all Challenger outlets.

D-Link

Website

Facebook

Youtube

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.  No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.


Share the article
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail
This entry was posted in product.

Updated with giveaway: Ambi Climate 2nd edition – my little home personal assistant !

Many people find me odd that I don’t really use air-conditioner (AC) when I sleep especially in our hot and humid tropical climate. Of course, there are nights when they are so unbearable I do switch on the AC for my rooms before I going to bed. The biggest reason why I don’t fancy using AC is that I often wake up in the middle of the night feeling very cold even though at the point of sleeping, the AC temperature was set to a nice temperature. Typically, I would be awoken at night as I feel so cold at night, then I need to switch off the AC and switch on my fan for the rest of the night. So for not so hot night, I prefer to sleep with solely the fan so that I won’t get interrupted at night due to “freezing” temperature.

When I came to know of Ambi Climate ,a device so smart, uses machine learning and smart sensors to adjust the AC’s temperature to my comfort preference while I am sleeping, I become curious. I hope that I may able to sleep peacefully throughout the night without being awaken by cold and freezing temperature ever again.

Unboxing it 

When the package came, I was amazed that it is actually a very tiny device  – just a palm size. For me , I just placed it next to my bedside as it needed a power point and it is in line sight of the AC. It is just an inconspicuous little device but little did i know the benefit I can gain from it will be immense – the first of its kind in the world – an AI enabled smart AC controller. It has a sleek minimalistic Danish design which would fit any home decor easily.

At first use, 

The setup was a breeze, with just an initial one time pairing. Download the  Ambi Climate app (available on app store and play store) in your phone and pair Ambi Climate with the AC within minutes, you will be synced to Ambi Climate!  It was just less than a 5 minute setup for a tech noob like me. Even if you can’t find the model of  AC in the drop down list, you can simply ask the app to search and pair.( I actually didn’t check the model before hand as I was confident it would work) It works with almost every brand and model of AC, the whole list is found here. Generally, the rule of thumb would be that your remote control must come with an LCD screen, when in doubt do check with the good folks at Ambi Climate before purchasing to be very sure.

There is only one LED button, once it is in green, it is all set to be your little personal assistant!

this is a simple instruction that came in the box ..i dont think it can get any easier than this!

The key for the first 2 weeks is to constantly give feedback to Ambi Climate so that the device “learn” what is your preference level of temperature of comfort. This is what Machine Learning is all about – teaching a machine to learn from data provided and adapt its program to mirror what it learns – which basically means Artificial Intelligence. The device analyses how temperature, humidity, sunlight , weather and time of the day affect the overall thermal comfort. With on-board sensors and external data (local weather via an internet based service), and combining with my own feedback, Ambi Climate is able the adjust the AC to my comfort. My husband ask what temperature did i set it to, I don’t really know, all I did was to let Ambi Climate know whether it was a bit cold, too warm or comfy.

 

Loving it

Do you know that you can actually switch on your AC before reaching home using the app? Especially when you have sleeping kids in the car and you got to have the most successful transition from the air-conditioned comfort of the car to home ! Ambi Climate does just that! Ain’t my home become a little smarter , all thanks to Ambi Climate. With the use of geo-location, the AC intelligently turn itself on when I reach a certain distance from my home.

The biggest benefit in having the ability to predict your comfort level, it means setting the AC at the correct temperature thus conserving energy and saving electricity (means saving money on your bills).  As you can see, the many adjustments made throughout my sleep.

The 2nd edition comes with 4 mode – Comfort, Away, Temperature and Manual.

Comfort mode which is the main reason why Ambi Climate is so smart  -it allows Ambi Climate to take control over the AC of coz this is the mode that you should be using most of the time. Temperature mode focuses on your own selected temperature and the AI adjust all other elements to meet that temperature. Manual mode  simply mean replace AC remote to using the Ambi Climate app on your phone – just the typical function of the AC remote. Away mode is for user who work long hours or travel a lot hence they are able to make use of Ambi Climate to maintain the level of heat/cold/humidity of the room/home. Away Mode will make sure your plants, pets and clothes are protected from unwanted moisture and extreme temperature .Once you have set the Away mode, Ambi Climate will only turn on your AC when the thresholds are met, and only for long enough to bring conditions back to “acceptable” levels.

There is also a timer function where you can configure the timing when you need a particular mode to be switch on or off. You can set the temperature when you wake up too as well.

I also constantly getting email updates from Ambi Climate of simple tips and reminders how to use Ambi Climate to make my home smarter and my life better.

I guess the biggest benefit from having Ambi Climate is my uninterrupted sleep, I am having the most comfortable sleep in recent weeks with the AC switch on. However, nothing beats knowing that there will be savings in my electricity bills. If there is anything I can critic which is not really Ambi Climate’s fault per say, due to the constant adjustments to temperature to the AC, I constantly hear the AC beeping sound whenever the AC temperature is adjusted automatically. As you can see, there are many adjustments made throughout the night to the AC temperature to ensure that I will be in my most comfortable temperature when sleeping. I will have both my AC switch on from now on – the air-conditioner and Ambi Climate!

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Ambi Climate 2nd edition is retailing at SGD 199 and you find the local retailers in this link

Giveaway

The giveaway is being administered by the folks at Ambi Climate.

Do participate in the short survey and you may be the lucky one to Ambi Climate which has been helping me have uninterrupted sleep.

Giveaway ends August 13th, 2018 at 11:59 pm (GMT +8). One entry per person. Duplicate entries will be disqualified. Entries on behalf of another person and joint submissions will not be accepted.

Disclosure: I received the Ambi Climate for the purposes of my review. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.


Share the article
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Review : Shangri-la Hotel Singapore- Deluxe Family Room and sneak peek into the themed family suites(part 1 of 2)

Warning ahead- overload of photos/videos throughout the post and the next, I won’t blame you if you skipped all words and dived right into the photos as no words can describe our most memorable staycation to date!

Truth to be told, this was not our first stay at a Shangri-la property. Last year, we visited Shangri-la Rasa Ria in Kota Kinabalu and had the most amazing overseas stay – luxurious, comfortable and unforgettable , sometimes we don’t really need to travel too far flung  and exotic to have one for the most amazing holidays – the key is in the hotel that we choose to stay in.

We decided to splurge a little (given that RM was weaker) so we went for THE BEST room in Shangri-la Rasa Ria –  I shall not elaborate too much on that stay as I know all are anxious to read about our Shangri-la Hotel Singapore experience but I will leave you with one picture and to say that the standards have been set high up there going into our staycation with Shangri-la Hotel Singapore.

Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore has recently renovated some of their rooms and a huge space (covered in part 2 of my post) to be the premier staycation hotel for families!

Typically, even from my own circle of friends , they tend to choose Shangri-la Rasa Sayang at Sentosa over the one at Orchard (as before the renovation), the sister property in Sentosa is perceived to be more family friendly with a play gym and a beach and but with renovation, Shangri-la Hotel Singapore has upped the game to be the ultimate choose for family staycation in Singapore

Just a quick tour of our deluxe inter-connecting family rooms on the newly rejuvenated family floor located in Tower Wing. The ninth floor of the Tower wing is dedicated to family travellers with 19 deluxe family room and 5 themed family suites. Each of the deluxe family room is able to accomodate families with two adults and two children below 12 years old.

twin beds configurations for the kids’ room

window alcove which be a play area or kid’s day bed too! 

for the parents, though it got invaded pretty quickly by the kids

  1. The most attention to details – especially for the little guests

even kids’ bathroom slippers come in 2 sizes

kids’ toiletries

sweet treats for the kids

swim bathrobes and souvenir bears

more sweet treats

in the plushy kids robe

2. Pantry and all things you need if you have a babies or a toddler!

Located on same floor as the deluxe family rooms and theme family suits,  this floor feature a very special rooms for families with young babies and toddler – a shared pantry with washing machine, dryer, iron, induction heater, microwave, and hot/cold filtered water dispenser provided.

And these is the list of amenities you can borrow at no additional cost from the family concierge service during your stay :-

3. The best breakfast buffet spread

4. A beautiful pool in the middle of lush greenery (I didn’tfeel 1 second that we are in Orchard Road)

Orchard Road is never my choice for a family staycation. Being in Shangri-la Hotel Singapore for 24 hours, I never once felt that I was in Orchard, with an area of 40,500 sq meter of lush gardens and a very beautiful free-from swimming pool in the middle of it all!

4. The service are 5-star

One of the biggest distinctions between a 5-star hotel vs the rest is the attentiveness and service level. The staff are always ready to give a helping hand and remember even the smallest details. There is a dedicated family concierge service for the guests on the family floor who will attend to all your needs and most importantly the little ones especially if you need anything from the pantry.

many thanks to Iris for remembering the cake for the birthday boy!

5. Buds by Shangri-la

Well, actually, this should be the first reason why any family should choose Shangri-la Hotel Singapore and not the fifth reason, but I had this as the very last reason as I will have an entire blog dedicated to this out-of-the-world play area that you will never has seen in any hotel in the world. If I were to cover Buds by Shangri-la in this blog, it will go on and on, so I decided to do a part 2 of this review especially dedicated to an awesome play areas. W

Finally, saving the best for last , a look at the highly raved and popular themed family suites– on the same floor as the family deluxe rooms (Tower Wing) that we stayed in. There are only 5 of such suites, each for one theme.

For those who can afford to splurge a bit ( I don’t really think it is a splurge as the themed family suites are the size of 2 deluxe inter-connecting family rooms) , for a once-in-a-lifetime experience and for very very special occasion, there is always the themed family suites. Just 5 of them – each a different theme -from Safari, Treetop, Castle, Underwater and Space. I had a privilege to peep into the Space themed family suites and it is a really really special room from the view of an adult…what more if it was from a kid…every kid will be jumping in joy to be able to sleep ( I don’t think any kids will be sleep in this room) and play in such a room.

 

space theme

For now, I will leave you with a short tour around the space themed family suite while I work on part 2 of  our amazing staycation!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.  No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own


Share the article
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Giveaway: A balance bike and a 2-wheel bicycle in 1 – Kinderbike Morph Hybrid

I am ashamed to admit that I only cycling on 2-wheel bicycle when I was around 12 years old. To me , cycling is in the same league as swimming, my kids need to how to know how to cycle and swim from childhood. My two older kids learned cycle the old school way – like  how I started,y which is using 4 wheelers.  My husband did all the coaching from removing of the wheels into a 3 wheelers and with a few evening coaching both of my older kids learned to cycle on 2 wheels before they turn 7. Now I am a bit greedy, I am sure they can learn to cycle even earlier than 7 years old. So now is getting the younger two boys age 3 and 5 years will try to learn how to balance on balance trainer and then directly to 2-wheel bicycle.

I have known of the method of using balance bike as an early introduction to balancing and cycling. I do have a free balance bike (milk powder redemption) however it was bulky and none of the kids took any interest in it. S0 I kept it in hope that one of the younger kids would pick it up and learn balancing. But I do recognise that it is bulkier and very plasticky, the reason for why it is now collecting dust in my storage. I dropped the idea of using a balance bike as a way to learn cycle due to an inappropriate balance trainer.

What make me wanna try Kinder Bike Morph Hybrid is its ability to be both a balance trainer and a 2-wheel bicycle (hence, in case the kids doesn’t like to stride and balance, the bicycle is not another white elephant).

These are many reasons why I really like about Kinder Bike Morph Hybrid :-

1.Convertible ie that’s why it is called Morph

THE selling point for me is the ability to convert from  a balance trainer to a fully operational bicycle. So even if the child does to use it as a run bike, you can still use this as a normal operational bicycle provided he can cycle (ie learn through old school method).

And it is also very easy to convert, even my 7 year-old is able to convert it easily (I only help to tighten the screws)

You can also see the video of  big C’s doing the conversion in my IG post 

2. Easy to assemble

With an allen key and a few steps, the bicycle can be setup easily. Just connect the handle bar and the back wheel portion to the main body part, and you are off …don’t forget to pump the tires too!

 

 

these are pneumatic tyres so remember to inflate before riding

3. Made fully of aluminium, with NO plastic parts

My old white elephant balance bike was a 100% plastic bike. It really felt like a bulky piece of toy, I guess it neither a balance bike nor a toy. However, the Kinder Bike Morph Hybrid feels like a real bicycle and not a toy bicycle for my younger boys.

4. Grows with your child – the seat is adjustable and hence it is suitable for kids from 3 to 6 years old

The wheel are at 12″ , a tad too small for my 7 year old but perfect for small J at almost 5 years old. I really hope he can learn to cycle quickly before he outgrow them and he can pass it to small C to stride or cycle. The maximum weight limit is at 34kg. Even the handle bars are adjustable, which allow you to raise them as the rider grows taller and move them forward to back for a custom fit for your child.

This is my 3-year-old at the its lowest configuration.

Small J’s at almost 5 year old

This is my 7-year-old at the highest configuration.

5. Lightest pedal 12″ bike in the market at 3.9 kg

Given it is an aluminum bicycle , it is definitely heavier than other balance bike with plastic parts etc, however it is still one of the lightest in the market given that it is a conventional bicycle when converted.

6. Coaster brakes

You must be wondering why there are no hand brakes on the handle bar. This model uses coaster brake which is a a brake on the hub of rear wheel. The braking is applied by rotating the pedals in reverse until the brake engages. This is not a similar concept to most bicycles including our adult bicycles hence, it does need some time of getting used tol

Kinderbike Morph Hybrid comes in 4 different colours-  red, blue, green, violet.


Accessories included: Bell, reflector, coaster brakes, drive train (plug-N-play) pedal kit.

Now lets see if my younger boys are loving their new ride

As a run bike , this is small J’s first time trying and he do not fully understand how to use it as a run bike , but my bigger kids as they are able to cycle on 2-wheel, they get the balancing concept in an instant.

As a conventional 2-wheel bicycle, I had my girl demonstrate the conventional cycling using the same bike. Obviously, it will take sometime before the younger boys can do this but I hope it sooner than later by starting on a balance bike.

Kinder Bike also have different models for younger kids  and even older kids, see their listing here You can also buy helmets from them as you must have a helmet for your kids every time they ride.

Tikes and Bikes

Website

Facebook

Giveaway 

Tikes and Bikes  has kindly sponsored a beautiful red Kinderbike Morph Hybrid worth SGD 239.99 (the exact same model as mine but in red)

1. Liked FB pages of mypreciouzkids.com and Kinderbike Singapore

2. Followed mypreciouzkids  on Instagram

3. Liked and share this FB post and tag 5 friends on the FB post and repost this IG post using #mypreciouzkidsgiveaway and tag 5 friends in the same IG post (1 tag per comment).

Please keep your Facebook shared post and IG shared post public (as indicated in step 3)  in order to qualify so that I can locate your entry.

I will be picking the 1 lucky winner . The giveaway closes on 13th May (Sun) 11.59pm.

For those who don’t want to wait for the results, and would like your kids to try this bicycle, I have a good offer especially for my readers:-

The first 5 readers to email at tikesnbikes@gmail.com to express interest in the Morph will be entitled to purchase bike for a low $99

Showroom add: 2 Jurong East St 21 #04-66 IMM Bldg
Open to public: Sat  130-6pm (alternate Sat of the month)
tel: 84966880
Winner: Shawn Quek
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.  No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own

Share the article
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Marshall Cavendish’s Mini Science Encyclopedia (7th edition) – perfect for introducing science to young readers

I remembered when I was young , my parents brought me a whole set of Britannica encyclopedia. It look really lovely on my  book shelf however, it is also very intimidating, full of small font text, no colour…so I hardly ever browse them and the 30-year-plus set still sits in my parents’ home till this very day.

Even the word “encyclopedia” itself is an intimidating word for any young kids. Thus far I have not gotten the older kids any encyclopedia to accompany their learning journey.

I was most happy when Marshall Cavendish approached me to review their very own version of Mini Science Encyclopedia. I have not known of this mini encyclopedia before but being one focusing on science, this definitely a welcome addition to my kids’ library . The book is SO different from my pre-conception of an encyclopedia, big font sizes, colour pictures and illustrations…..definitely not intimidating at all. Targeted at primary school children, I reckon you can even start your K2s on some of the simpler science concepts as well.

These are the reasons I give this mini encyclopedia a big thumbs up!

  1. Well-rounded content

As this mini encyclopedia focuses on science, this book covers a variety of topics from our body,animals plants, ecology, environment, space, magnets, heat, electricity, energy, life sciences and many more.

Being a primary school kid’s parents, I did a quick look if I would rely on this book for primary science revision. Do note that this book does not follow the PSLE science syllable strictly, hence for revision purposes you would still need to use the textbook and accompany assessment books. However, this is a very good base to introduce new topics and science concepts!

2. Written in a local context

The book is written by a local author. Being in its 7th edition, it was first publised in 1998 and have been constantly updated.Many of the facts in foreign published encyclopedia are very general and do not mentioned on things we see in this part of the world ie Singapore.

This books covered the topics from a very local context perspective such as introduction to saga seed, rambutan, durian, chiku, duku and even the Semakau landfill which makes the book relatable to kids in Singapore.

3. Big fonts and colour pictures/illustration

One of the best ways to attract young readers is using big fonts and also colourful pictures and illustrations. This book is the less intimidating as my p1 girl took an interest in reading the book and having a introduction to science concepts around her. I have taken some shots of the simpler concepts and the beautiful illustration for the lower primary school kids. This book will also appeal for readers who prepare non fiction materials – animals, solar systems, dinosaurs!

 

4. Peppered with simple science experiments you can try at home

One of the best ways to encourage to love for science is to dabble in them. The book has included simple science experiments you can try at home with your child.

This is a very suitable mini encyclopedia for your lower primary school kids for leisure reading and brief intro to new science concepts. As mentioned previously,  this is not a primary school science text book (does not followed school syllable( but a mini encyclopedia to accompany the young minds …I am very sure this is more useful that having a full set of Britanica Encyclopedia.

You can purchase this mini encyclopedia priced at $20.50 (before GST) available in major bookshops such as Popular, Times and Kinokuniya or from online .

Giveaway

Marshall Cavendish has kindly sponsored a copy to a lucky reader. The winner will be required to pick up the copy from their office during office hours.

1. Liked FB pages of mypreciouzkids.com and Marshall Cavendish Education

2. Followed mypreciouzkids  and  Marshall Cavendish Education on Instagram

3. Liked and share this FB post and repost this IG post using #mypreciouzkidsgiveaway and tag 3 friends in the same IG post (1 tag per comment) on the same IG post.

Please keep your Facebook shared post and IG shared post public (as indicated in step 3)  in order to qualify so that I can locate your entry.

I will be picking the 1 lucky winner . The giveaway closes on 29th April April (Sun) 11.59pm.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.  No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own


Share the article
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail