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

How do you choose between two loves?

Two words. Tenacity and Compromise. 

I love this movie. Aside from being a huge fan of the incredibly likeable Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays the movie's lead role Kate Reddy, this movie speaks volumes to me.  

I was excited to watch it as soon as I saw the trailer.  I could relate to Kate and completely understand her emotional turmoil to be physically and emotionally present for her children AND fulfilling her professional dream at the same time.

I love my kids.  I love my job.  How do I choose between 2 things that I love?  Must I make a choice?

As always, LIFE throws you curve balls, and watched while you agonize over your decision to choose or compromise.  The invitation to the movie preview fell on the same day as the annual Mid-Autumn Festival at my son's school.  This festival was a big event for the school and was organized by the Parent Support Group (PSG or PTA equivalent).  It was a major fundraising opportunity for the PSG as well as a chance for families to bond. 

As a parent volunteer who had reduced my volunteer hours due to work commitments, I had promised the PSG committee that I would help out at this event.  I had even made plans to put in my hours manning the game station, and then spent quality fun time with my kids at the Festival.  

With the movie preview, these plans had to be revised.  The night before the Festival, I sat down with my kids and helper (my husband was out of town - remember the curve ball?) and we discussed the 'new' plans.  

Like an army sergeant, I gave them their marching orders.

My son will bring his mobile phone to school so that he can call me and know where to find me after school is out at 5pm.  I will be at school at 3:30pm to help with setting-up of the game stall.  My helper and my daughter will leave the house at 4:30pm and join me in school at 5pm. 

All parties have to regroup at 6:30pm and we have to absolutely leave the school at 6:45pm for me to drop them home.  That would give me a comfortable 30 minutes to rush downtown from the East, in time for the movie preview.  

On that day, it was all systems go.  Things went according to plan, except for one minor detail.  I had forgotten to instruct them where to meet me at 6:30pm.  As I frantically dialled both my son and helper's phone numbers, I was scanning the faces of the hundreds of students and adults milling around the school, hoping it will be them.  And of course, they were not and they were not answering their phones.  Darn it!  We are on the clock here, people!

I could feel my panic button being pushed, as I tried to focus my thoughts and think of contingency plans.  Then on the sixth try, my helper answered her phone.  And miraculously, my son was with her!  Yea! We are only five minutes behind.  

"But Mom! We still have to redeem our prizes!" cried my son.  We rushed to the redemption room, picked out the prize and sped off to the car park.  By the time I dropped them home, I had only 15 minutes to get to my movie preview.  This was no easy task considering that I'll be driving in after-office-hours traffic on a Friday.

I Don't Know How She Does It © 2011 The Weinstein Co.

I'm happy to say that I got to the preview breathless, but with a minute to spare. And yes! I bribed the children with cotton candy and home movie so I could have a night out with my friend to watch this preview.

"I Don't Know How She Does It" opens on 22 Sep with a stellar cast Sarah Jessica Parker, Greg Kinnear, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Munn, Seth Meyers, Kelsey Grammer, Christina Hendricks and Jane Curtin 

Click HERE to watch the Trailer

Are We Running Out Of Time?

Don't you wish you could just stop time from flying away or have more hours in a day to fulfil your professional, parental and personal commitments? 

And when you become a parent, are you constantly trading your time to be with your family or to be at work?  How many times have you uttered these words to your child and then felt incredibly guilty right after: “Not now, honey, I’m busy.  I’ll make it up to you later.” But you never seem to find the time to do so.

And that's what the new Dimension Film Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World seeks to do.  Do we really have all the time in the world?  While we are chasing time, are we making the right priorities?

Wilbur Wilson (Joel McHale) is a famous spy hunting television reporter, married to Marissa Cortez (Jessica Alba), a homemaker with their new baby and stepmother to Wilbur's kids Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook).  

He wishes to spend more time with the family but is under constant pressure by his work to make new discoveries for his television show.  What he doesn't know is that the woman he shares his bed with - his wife - is a retired super spy.  Things get interesting when maniacal Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) threatens to stop time with his Armageddon machine and Marissa is called out of her retirement by the head of OSS to deal with this threat.

The competitive and bickering siblings are thrust into action when they learn their boring stepmom was once a top agent.  And the step kids, with the help of former Spy kids Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara) must work together and use their wit to fight alongside their stepmom against the Timekeeper and his sidekick, "Tick-Tock".

Will the world run out of time?  

This is a feel-good movie on sibling rivalry, acceptance and family unity.  It has many funny bits of dialogue which I shall leave you to discover.  We love the family pet, a dog named Argonaut, who talks with a British accent (sounded very much like Ricky Gervais of The Office UK fame). And of course, there's Jessica Alba!  She has got to be the hottest, sexiest, kick-ass pregnant mama EVER! 

The first movie to introduce a 4D: Aromascope; the Aroma Card distributed at the beginning of the show was a great hit with the kids.  Personally, it smelled more like strawberry bubblegums to me, but my son swears he could smell all eight different scents on the aroma-card!  

Do expect lots of idioms about time such as "time flies when you're having fun" and “spend your time now or you'll always find time later for regret.” 

Spy Kids 4: All The Time In The World is scheduled for release on 1^st Sep in Singapore.

Conan the Barbarian (2011)

If you are lusting for a movie that is all blood, and gore, then the recent remake of Conan the Barbarian will not disappoint.  The reprised version is packed with all kinds of violent, gruesome and brutal graphic details.

Photo by Simon Varsano – © 2011 - Lionsgate

Conan the Barbarian is an adaptation of Robert E. Howard's sword and sorcery adventures (1932), which depicts the epic tale of a Cimmerian child who witnessed the murder of his father and the massacre of his entire tribe, Cimmeria, by a cruel warlord or King (in the new adaptation).  The sole surviving Cimmerian youth vows for revenge and makes it his life mission to hunt down the perpetrators and execute vengeance on them.

In the new adaptation, baby Conan was born in the midst of war and “suckled on his mother’s blood instead of milk”, hence his thirst for blood and war.  The scene moves on quickly to young Conan exhibiting his barbaric traits by decapitating the heads of cannibalistic natives and defacing one of evil King Khalar Zym’s henchmen by cutting off his nose.

The movie gets bloodier and bloodier by the minute, with lots more amputations, decapitations, slashing, and deliberate blood spills. Don’t expect any real conversation in the movie either. Any conversations that take place are peppered with gnashes of teeth and growls.  A classic example is Conan’s simple declaration to justify his existence: "I live. I love. I slay. I'm content."  Nuff said.

While the movie is a real genius in making you cringe (check out the scene where Conan digs his fingers into the hole where once there was a nose; trust me, not even the most stoic of men can look on without flinching), and it has all the elements of monsters and scary stunts, it lacks the panache of the original Conan that made it so great.

We also give Jason Momoa of “Baywatch Hawaii” fame an ‘A’ for his acting effort. But how do you step into the shoes of a character immortalized by Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1982?

Despite his hunky good looks and smoky piercing eyes, Momoa’s physique (even at 1.93m) just wasn’t adequate enough to fill the screen presence the way Schwarzenegger’s did.

At least he was a great piece of eye-candy (but not the only one) in the movie.  Look out for Rachel Nichols, who played “pure blood” Tamara and the damsel in “distress” as well as the bewitching Rose McGowan (of 'Charmed' fame), who played yet another witchy role as the daughter of evil king Khalar Zym, Marique. 

Directed by Marcus Nispel, the reprised version also stars Stephen Lang (arrogant misguided general in “Avatar”) and Said Taghmaoui.

Without a doubt, this is a movie for those nostalgic of the original version of Conan the Barbarian and definitely a must-have movie for any male-testosterone bonding sessions.

Conan the Barbarian is currently showing at all Golden Village theatres.

Rated R for strong bloody violence, some sexuality and nudity.  Duration of movie: 112 minutes

Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension

Catch the movie event of the year! 

Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension premières on Disney Channel - 27 August, 7:30pm!

I have heard a lot about "Phineas and Ferb".  From colleagues too young to know about the Eagles (only the greatest band of all time) and from young fans like my 7-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. They gushed about the characters, the music, the graphics etc.

"What's the big deal?" I thought. It's just two brothers who get into all kinds of scrapes and an older sister who's out to bust them - shows you what little I knew about them! 

So, when Disney invited me and a plus one to the première of their Phineas and Ferb movie launch - whoa! they are so popular they have a movie launch? - I thought: "if it's so popular, I'd better get with it."

Kyana with Mai Tatoy

With my daughter as my plus one, we headed over to Shaw Theatres nex (23 Serangoon Central, #04-64, Nex, Singapore 556083). While the mall is easily accessible via the Serangoon MRT and a bus interchange, finding the entrance to the parking was a little tricky.

When we finally arrived at the theatre, we were greeted by our kind hostesses, Joanne and Georgina from T/PR who graciously led us to our seats in the "Première Screen" - a first-class equivalent of movie theatres with deluxe leather seats and premium dine-in services within a cosy hall of 48 seats.

We were served popcorn (my girl's favourite), soft drinks and tea. And then Mai Tatoy, Media Relations Director of Disney Channels  Southeast Asia came bearing goodies... Talk about first-class treatment!

But back to the movie...

The story begins on a summer afternoon in Danville.  While celebrating the anniversary of getting their beloved pet platypus, Perry, imaginative stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb are catapulted into Dr. Doofenshmirtz's Evil Inc., where they encounter a machine that opens portals into other dimensions.

Phineas and Ferb travel to Alternate-Danville, which eerily  resembles their home in the Tri-Sate area. There, they encounter their alter-egos - exact replicas of themselves except their characters are completely opposite. The alter-ego Ferb and Phineas are pale-skinned and unadventurous (having not known what summer is), while their alter-ego sister, Candace is a kick-ass heroine.

They also discover that their faithful pet Perry is actually a secret agent.  Without revealing too much of the plot, the trio or six-er had to work together to usurp the evil and smarter alter-ego of Dr. Doofenshmirtz.   

Expect lots of clever lines that reflect the humour of the series creators, Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh. Its good versus bad theme may be all too familiar, but juxtaposed that with the opposing alter-egos and the collaborative efforts to thwart their nemesis, and you get a minty new look on this common theme. 

The movie is light-hearted and fun and true to its message for the young: with enough imagination and ingenuity, practically anything can be accomplished. 

"When we were growing up, we went out into our backyards and garages and we built things. Now there seems to be way too many 'organized activities' that limit the freedom of creativity and artistry," Marsh says. "We hope [Phineas and Ferb] can convey the kids to go outside, use their imaginations and create something."

While this may not be a must-see movie for the adults, it is a nice, heart-warming movie to watch with your kid(s).  To borrow a line from Candace in the movie: "give [yourself and your kid] a little more time to be young."

Click here to watch the video.

Kyana's favourite: popcorn!

August 27, 7:30pm, Disney channel

Musical Performance: The Lion King

As parents, we are very familiar with The Lion King - the songs, the storyline, the characters.  After all, the kids had only watched the animated feature like several hundred times.  When the international musical made its Southeast Asia debut in Singapore earlier this year (in March), we thought: “yeah, we’ll go see it when we have time.” After all, how different can it be?

When we got our tickets, we had no idea what a treat we were in for.  Right from the start, the vibrant sounds of the African beat, the elaborate setting and the remarkable costumes pulled us into an electric zone; our senses of sight and sound were fully engaged, and our heartstrings captured and manipulated by the skilful performance of the talented cast.

Our tickets seated us on the ground floor of the Marina Bay Sands Theatre (there are 3 floors) towards the aisle.  We had never felt so lucky! Julie Taymor, the acclaimed director of this production did not restrict the performance to the front of the theatre.  Our kids, 5 and 7, were delighted by the elephants, monkeys, and other wild animals of the jungle that traipse regally down the aisle throughout the performance.  Not to mention the flock of birds that flew in at the opening segment during the second half of the show!

For those unfamiliar with The Lion King, the storyline echoes that of famous playwright, William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, where a young prince is tricked of his heritage, his journey to learn from his mistakes and finally, his quest to reclaim his kingdom. Walt Disney released The Lion King as a feature animation in 1994 and it has since been adapted into a musical and magically transformed by Taymor into a spectacular theatrical experience, winning over 70 major international theatre awards and viewed by over 50 million people around the world.


A Jaw Dropping Theatrical Performance!

Apart from the love of the storyline, what impressed us about the musical were the clever usage of puppetry and stilts to depict the mood of a scene (check out the giraffes that strolled across the 'plains' and the jaguar that stalks them below), and the stunning theatrical effects to tell the story (we were so blown away by the use of lights to materialize Mufasa’s spirit (face) in the stars in the scene where he admonishes his son for not remembering his heritage).

And the beautiful costumes! The animal characters were vividly portrayed by the astounding masks and brought to life through the brilliant performance of the actors clad in intriguing costumes. The expressive and elaborate masks atop each performer looked like they weigh a ton, but were actually made of carbon fibre so they are actually much lighter. The performers were decked out in elaborate colourful costumes made of silk and natural fabrics that allow them to move easily. Who could forget the fluid dances of Nala with her tribe or the hilarious tirades between Timon and Pumba?

Together with the ingenious set design, the clever dance choreographies and the enchanting musical ensembles to popular medleys like ‘Can You Feel The Love Tonight’ and the more upbeat ‘Hakuna Matata’, The Lion King production coalesce to give you an exceptional theatrical experience.

The performance is worth the price!

Catch The Lion King performances on Tuesday to Sunday evenings at 8pm and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Ticket prices for the engagement starts from S$65. Platinum packages, which include prime seat locations, a souvenir gift, S$10 merchandise voucher and a drink, are also available.
Due to overwhelming response, The Lion King performances have been extended indefinitely.  And to commemorate their status as the longest-running musical in Singapore, the organizers (Marina Bay Sands) have launched a special promotional family package, “Pride Pack” (four tickets). You save $100 per family. Tickets are available from SISTIC or the Marina Bay Sands Box offices.

The tickets are pricey (but well-worth it, in my opinion), so to ensure that you and your family have an enjoyable experience, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Bring a sweater; kids should wear long pants/tights - it can get a little chilly in the theatre.
• Get the kids to visit the bathroom before the show starts. The queue gets a little long during the interval (about 20 mins; a bell will cue you when the interval is over)
• Be punctual – if you are late, you will miss the spectacular start of the performance. Also, you are granted entry or re-admission into the theatre only when there’s an appropriate pause in the show.
• Pack some snacks and drinks for your child unless you don’t mind splurging at the Theatre Snack counter (a regular packet of chips or chocolate bar start at $3; soft drinks at $5 and alcohol from $10-15).
• Children under 3 years of age are admitted free of charge, provided they sit on their parents' lap.
• Get tickets near the aisle if you have a young child – you can get out easily if your child gets restless or frightened by the performance.
• Go for the matinee show (2pm) if your kids can't stay up past 9pm - the show is 2.5 hours long
• As tempted as you will be to photograph and record the performance, it is NOT allowed.

Now we understand why people couldn't get enough of it, and go back a second or third time.  We are watching it again. See you there?

This post first appeared in theAsianparent.com on 8 August 2011.

Popular 3D cakes - Angry Bird and Angelina Ballerina

Do you have a birthday party to plan? Whether its for a child, an anniversary, a milestone birthday, these bakeries have the cake that will blow you away.

These bakeries have transformed the usual birthday cakes into an art. Not only are they lovely to look at, they taste great too. But honestly, these cakes just look too yummy to be eaten.

If you are planning a birthday celebration, here are 3 cake connoisseurs who have built cakes in the popular themes guaranteed to wow your child’s guests and the accompanying parents.

1. ET Artisan Sweets is a cake boutique specializing in Parisian macarons, tarts, bespoke wedding cakes, cupcakes and cookies.

You can choose from any 2D or 3D designs, although the staff is quite helpful with their feedback on how the cake will turn out.

This particular cake on the left cost $220 (22 servings) or $295 (36 servings). Tax included.

Cupcakes cost $7 (2D) to $9 (3D) each. Pre-order cakes at least 2 weeks in advance. You may need to give more notice if their schedule is particularly busy that month.

Check out www.etasweets.com for more beautiful cake designs or visit their charming bakery at 32 Holland Grove Road, Henry Park Apartments, S278807.

Opening Hours:
Mon – Saturdays 9:30am – 6pm.
Closed on Sundays and major Public Holidays.

2. Ecreative Group provides competitive prices and good after sales services, as well as on-time delivery. They are also open to your suggestions and will try to customize for you whenever possible.

Ecreative can do photo-print cakes for you as well. All you have to do is email them the photo.

This fantasy castle cake on the right cost $300 (4.5kg) to $321 (4.5kg), inclusive of GST.

Pre-order is generally a week ahead although you should book earlier with more complicated designs.

They have 4 delivery schedules and are generally quite punctual with their deliveries. For more information, call 6363 3636 (opening hours: Mon – Fri, 9am – 6pm; Sat: 9am – 1pm; closed on Sun and public holidays).

3. ’Life’s simple pleasures’ is Cake Avenue Singapore‘s moto. And they have lived up to it with these beautiful cakes that look too good to eat.

Caris Chan who ordered this cake for her daughter said, “Thank you, Cake Avenue! For making my daughter’s day! I just cannot bear to eat Angelina!”

Also check out their Rapunzel, Rapunzel cake – satisfied customer Megan Calfee who ordered the cake said, “Thank you SOOOOOO much for Natalya’s cake, it was an absolute hit, everyone loved it, you are amazing!!!”

Call 6877 9008 to order your cakes. Pre-order is 5 – 7 days in advance. This particular Angelina Ballerina cake is 0.5kg and cost $92.50 (including tax). The cupcakes that surround it cost $4 each. There is a minimum order of 60 cupcakes.

This post first appeared in theAsianparent.com http://bit.ly/fmmf7u