Moving on - Universal Scribbles

Dear Friends,

Thank you for visiting this site.  I have migrated this site to Universal Scribbles -  Conversations among friends. Do join me there for new updates and articles on parenting, travels, lifestyle and personal development.

In addition, I have also set up a Facebook page.  Please "Like" the page.

See you at the new site.

Cheers,
Meiling

Review: Natural corn-based baby utensils

Finally, moms can say goodbye to toxic plastics and feed their babies nutritious food from all-natural, 100% baby safe utensils made from corn!

"Mothers put tremendous effort to feed nutritious food to their babies, but it's frustrating to have to feed them with conventional plastic utensils that contain toxic chemicals like BPA, Phthalates, Maelamine or PVC" said Daphne Goh, owner and Director of Boo-tiful, a fine children's furniture boutique.

"We want to give mothers in Singapore an organic alternative to complement their feeding routines with their babies," she adds.  Boo-tiful's latest addition to its feeding range, Dandelion feeding products are made from all natural cornstarch that are environmentally friendly and completely child-safe.  

You can be assured when baby puts these award-winning feeding utensils and teething links into their mouths for oral stimulation, their health and well-being are taken into consideration. 

Dandelion products come in bold colours, with unique shapes and multi-texture surfaces to assist the babies' exploration development.  They are recommended for all ages birth and up.

Dandelion range is priced from S$14.90 - S$16.90.  It is available from Boo-tiful and the following stockists: 

• Mothercare stores islandwide
• Eat Organic
• Doolbydoo
• Jam and Muffin
• Simplethots

Food: Best Cha Kway Teow in Singapore

Singaporeans love to EAT. Follow our series on favorite food haunts and irresistible dishes as we scour the island and consult expert foodies on their recommendations for the best in town.

Char Kway Teow

There’s something about this sinfully delicious dark horse of a dish that makes fans salivate like babies and hunt the island in search of the best.

Whatever your preference - with plenty of Lap cheong (Chinese sausages), cockles, vegetables, wet or dry, laden with dark sauce, with or without lard – there’s one that will surely satisfy your palate.

According to our food experts from HungryGoWhere.com, ladyironchef.com, and makansutra.com, here are the best Char Kway Teow stalls in Singapore.

1. Hill Street Char Kway Teow – THE BEST

Blk 16 Bedok South Road
#01-187 Bedok South Road Market & Food Centre
Tel: +65 9042 1312

2. No 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow No18炒粿条面

images courtesy of ladyironchef.com

No 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow
Zion Road Riverside Food Centre

3. Heng Huat Fried Kway Teow

121 Pasir Panjang Road
Pasir Panjang Food Centre
Stall #01-36
11am to 9.30pm
Closed on Sundays and PH

4. 928 Char Kway Teow

726 Clementi West Street 2
#01-124 Market And Food Centre.

5. Katong (Peter) Fried Kway Teow

Tanjong Pagar Plaza
Stall #02-14

6. Lau Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow

Blk 51 Old Airport Road
Stall #01-12

This post first appear in theAsianparent.com in April 2011.

Brain supplements for your child

Students today have a very demanding and challenging school life. Not only do they have full days of classes in school, they are expected to participate in multiple extracurricular activities and perform well in all areas of their lives.

Courtesy of BRANDS

And when it comes to exam season, the month prior is especially stressful. To prepare for the exams, they have to memorize more, think faster and do more worksheets and practice papers. They are usually tensed from lack of down time, are sleep deprived, and mentally stretched as they strive to cramp as much knowledge and information into their brain as possible.

Many also have to manage psychological fears of failure, of not being able to recall what they have learnt or having insufficient time to prepare for all the exam subjects.

To help our young scholars be alert and have the stamina to go the long haul, here are some tips to help them beat exam stress.

1. It’s About Time! – Create a regular schedule for study if you haven’t already. For the lower primary students, teach them time management skills or help them allocate time for extra study periods.  Remember to include some down time for relaxation.

2. Motivation – Lower primary kids may not understand the importance of having an exam.  Sharing the purpose of sitting for the exam may just motivate them to study more.  Failing which, the promise of a reward at the end of the exam may just do the trick.

3. Proper Nutrition and Supplement – Feed them quality food to help them stay mentally and physically alert.  Boost their attentiveness with a well-balanced diet of brain food like Essence of Chicken, berries, salmon, tuna, eggs, whole grains and beans.

4. Exercise regularly – Get them out of the house for some fresh air.  Studies show that physical activities are a great way to get energy and the rush of oxygen helps to increase mental alertness. It is also a great way for them to unwind, and release the tension on the eyes.

5. Rest and Relax – While time is scarce, it is important to ensure that your child gets the requisite 8 – 10 hours of rest during this period.  When the brain is rested, it is better able to retain or recall information rapidly.

ACE the exam with these Brain supplements

The brain and eyes are the most used organs during a child’s academic career.  To support these growing organs, and provide more energy and concentration to your kids, nourish them daily with health supplements like BRAND’S®AlphaMynd, an all natural health food product that children can consume daily.

1) BRAND’S® AlphaMynd DHA + Taurine is a special formulated health supplement to promote healthy brain function and meet the growing nutrient needs of today’s children. It has DHA and Taurine, both well established as ingredients important for learning capabilities and mental development. It also contains Sesamin and Vitamin E; 2 powerful anti-oxidants that scavenge free radicals. Reduced free radicals in our body would improve the efficiency of the delivery of DHA and Taurine nutrients to the brain.

2) BRAND’S® AlphaMynd Essence of Chicken for Children with vitamin B complex increases energy level and promotes mental alertness and concentration.

3) BRAND’S® AlphaMynd Essence of Chicken for Children with Lycium increases metabolic rate, physical and mental alertness, and improves mental well-being.  Lycium, also known as Chinese wolfberries, is a mild Chinese herb that can be taken as young as 2 years old, and has a good reputation for its ability to improve eyesight.

Redeem your free samples and find out more about BRAND’S® Alpha supplements at www.brandswellness.com.sg.

This advertorial first appeared in theAsianparent.com

Best beach-front restaurants for families

What have you planned for this weekend? Looking for a place where you can relax, and the children can burn off some steam? Then check out our list of restaurants with indoor playgrounds or our beachfront restaurants.

The beach is a fantastic place for the family! All that sun, sea and sand is sure to bring back some of that resort feel, not to mention the free space for the children to expend their insurmountable energy. You can build sand castles, fly a kite, dip in the sea, and play with a Frisbee or beach ball with your kids.

If the kids are young, the beach is a great sensory playground. For the older kids, you can enjoy the fresh sea-air and relax as you look out into the far horizon as you keep an eye on them.

Best of all, most of the beach activities these days aren’t confined to sand activities. You can cycle, roller-blade or run along the many footpaths near the beaches. Our National Parks Board had also very kindly set up many public facilities (toilets and showers) along the beach front to allow you to wash off the sand or freshen up before heading out to dinner.

Here are some of our favourite hang-outs at the beach.

1. Bistro at Changi (International)

Bistro @ Changi is an alfresco café serving light snacks and beverages for cyclists. It is located at the Changi Pitstop. This café also provides cyclists with a comfortable seating environment to rest and have a meal after a long ride. Cyclists can select from a variety of snacks such as palatable sandwiches and salads, or have an aromatic cup of freshly-brewed coffee. Refreshing juices are also available to quench your thirst.

Breakfast by the beach available on Sunday and public holiday, 9am – 11am, check out the special breakfast set ($5.90) with coffee or tea.

Address: 260 Nicoll Drive, Changi Beach Carpark 1, Singapore 498991

Telephone: 65465229

Operating Hrs: Monday – Thurs 11am – 11pm, Fri and Sat 11am – 1am, Sunday 9am – 1am

Nearest Carpark: first carpark at Changi Beach

Must try: Fish and Chips, Hickory Chicken Chop, Sirloin Steak and Sambal fish

2. Braise (French)

Sitting on the edge of Palawan Beach, Braise offers diners with the open view of the beach and the sea through a series of palm trees which forms the natural landscape the minute they steps into the restaurant. Braise serves unique cuisines, based on the French philosophy of natural seasonal flavours, enhanced by modern culinary technique with the freshest possible ingredients.

Address: 60 Palawan Beach Walk, Palawan Beach, Sentosa
Telephone: (65) 6271 1929

Operating Hrs:
Mon – Sat: 12pm – 3pm (last order for Lunch at 2:30pm)
Mon – Sun: 6pm – 10:30pm (last order for Dinner at 10:30pm)

Getting There: Palawan-Tanjong Beach Tram
Nearest Carpark: Beach Carpark
Website: http://www.braise.com.sg

3. Trapizza (Italian)

Every child loves pizza. Choose from a delicious selection of 9 pizza choices and 8 salads and pasta menu from Trapizza, an alfresco beachside dining that also include a takeaway menu for guests heading out to the beach or to explore Sentosa Island.

Address :101 Siloso Road, Sentosa 098970 Shangri-la’s Rasa Sentosa Singapore

Telephone: 6376 2662

Operating Hrs:

Mon – Sun: noon to 10pm

Nearest Carpark: Rasa Sentosa Resort

Must try: Four Cheeses Pizza, The Sicilian (Signature Pizza), Spaghetti Carbonara

4. Sunset Bay (International)

What could be finer than relaxing with cocktails in a car-free beachside park in the early evening? Sunset Bay offers just that, and with an excellent menu you can show up for dinner and while the night away to the far-off thrumming of hundreds of cargo ships moored just off Singapore’s southern shore. A rare find, indeed!

Add: 1300 East Coast Park Area Area F, Boungainvillea Garden East Coast Park, Carpark F2, Singapore 098996 (Near water Venture East Coast and East Coast Sea Sport Club are located 0.1 kilometres away from Sunset Bay.)

Telephone: 6448 9060

Operating Hrs:

Mon – Fri: 3pm – 12am

Sat – Sun & PH: 12pm – 2am

Must Try: pizzas, mango bruschetta

5. Scruffy Murphy’s (Irish)

A member of the Irish pub chains, Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Cafe-Pub is a cosy Irish seaside cottage by the calm shores of Singapore’s East Coast. Scruffy’s has been serving up great food and drinks for 5 years now as part of Gaelic Inns Group and is well known for the quality and variety of its hone cooked food, and of course the friendly service from its staff.

Address: 1000 East Coast Parkway, B7 Marine Cove(Note: Just in front of MacDonald’s facing the beach!)

Telephone: 6449 7717

Operating Hrs:

Mon – Wed: 3 p.m. till midnight

Thurs: 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Fri and eve of PH: 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Sat: 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sun and PH: 9 a.m. to midnight

Nearest Carpark: Marine Cove carkpark

Must try: All Day breakfast, Enjoy “Sunset” Happy hours prices daily on draught beer all night! Happy hour prices on all house spirits and wine till 8 p.m. daily

6. The Beach Hut (International)

Whatever your taste – eastern, western . . . northern or southern – we have dishes to delight and satisfy. Items from our no frills menu have proved to be irresistible favourites with our ever-expanding clientele. Check out their stress-free buffet breakfasts on Sundays and public holidays.

Address :
Address: 1000 East Coast Parkway, Marine Cove, Blk B, Unit 21

Telephone: 6245 1932

Operating Hrs:

Mon to Thurs: 12 noon – 12 midnight
Fri & Sat: 12 noon – 2 am
Sun & Public Holidays: 8.30 am – 1 am
Eve of Public Holidays: 12 noon – 1 am

Nearest Carpark: Marine Cove

Must try: Norwegian Salmon Fillet, Cajun Chicken Chop, King Prawn & Seafood Hor Fun

This post first appeared in theAsianparent.com: http://bit.ly/pLNwLT