Category Archives: Kids

adulting: age is just a number?

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almost a month ago, I turned 35. There I said it.

to be honest, it feels weird to say that I am 35. I often joke to my younger friends that I feel older. But then again, I..don’t really feel 35. I do feel younger (denial much..haha). Donald is older than me..so maybe that’s why I always feel younger, so yay!

Then heck..I have 3 of these and they remind me every day that I am old.

my jazz band

Not verbally, but the aches and pains that I feel. To think about it..I have been babywearing my kids full on for the past..5 years or so. My knees are going to give out soon man. I get frequent backaches and I see a chiropractor for my neck and lower back pain. Donald is in a better shape than me, err aches and pains wise. Not figure =P

Big shoutout to my chiropractor, Dr Richard Kissun at Kissun Chiropractic! You can contact them at 6243 2191 for a consult.

Just put Sarah to bed..and the thoughts that ran through my mind were..

should I fold the laundry now? about 4 loads on the laundry chair now.
i should go clear the stuff outside now. drats, the dining table looks horribly messy again. let’s see what I can clear.
oh hang on, empty the tub, then clear the dining table.
i’m so sleepy tho. maybe I should sleep early. but Sarah’s asleep now..if I don’t do this now, I won’t get any done tomorrow. dammit.
..
oh drats, we haven’t helped Quentin with his school project. And it’s almost the end of the school term.
…homework, remind me to ask Oliver about his homework tomorrow.
…accounts, I think I’ll start tomorrow. I need sleep.
oh CRAP. I still haven’t booked Sarah’s 9 mth appointment at the polyclinic. 

Deciding to sleep..doesn’t end my train of thought. It goes on, as though I needed constant reminders to myself before I commit them to memory. My memory is the shits now. I have notes written everywhere..just in case.

Cos you know..my brain is trying to remember many things sequentially and my husband tells me to stop multi-tasking. Riiiight. I thought I might try and write down what exactly that I’m reminding myself and I gave up. I don’t even know where or how to begin hahaha.

So..Donald and I spent this arvo..adulting. Latest buzzword leh, adulting. I’m no millenial (or am I? dammit, 1982, counted anot ah?). We decided to be good parents, and good husband and wife, and tidy up some admin work for the 5 lives in this household.

A few years back, Donald and I did our wills at my insistence. We are parents, and I felt that we needed to be prepared for the worst at any time. It is a morbid and emotional process, but it had to be done. It made us sit down and think about the people around us, and who we could really depend on. We needed to pick the right people who believed in our values and would act in our interest, to be the guardians for the children. Moments like this, you truly realise who are the ones you can depend on.

The will is but just one tool to protect the kids. We had to write down a list of everything we owned, the details and the access. I was about to get Donald to write down a simple list and I would type it out. Surprisingly, he said that we should write it by hand.

eh? 

A digital copy leaves room for hacking and amendments, making it vulnerable. Unless there is gonna be someone who can imitate Donald’s chicken scratchy handwriting, I think having it handwritten makes it safer.

The lengths we go to to make things easier to process in the event we pass away. Make me feel…so grown up and responsible. Wah lao.

Then I tidied up our insurance policies and did up a payment schedule so that we could see how poor we’d get at certain months. It’s like really damn poor lah!! But argh..coverage..and protection so that we don’t burden anyone around us. T_T so much expenses.

Btw, if you are looking for an NTUC Income agent, please look for Kenneth Han. I swear by him cos if not for him, I would not have ever learnt about using my child’s Medisave for hospitalisation plan premiums! I also wouldn’t have learnt about the new Maternity 360 standalone plan for pregnancy too but wah lao, it like came too late lor. People give birth liao, then come up with this policy. Previously they had a Ladies Rider for hospitalisation plan but I wasn’t with them for my hospitalisation. Oh wells..wasted. But yes, he is my go-to guy when I got any insurance related questions, even plans not by Income. Hahaha I think he very boh eng when I keep asking him about maternity or kids related stuff. #notasponsoredadhor #realtruth

After done with insurance..then I had to check my poor bank balance. I’m a low risk taker, so means I would rather keep my money in the bank. I would keep the money under my mattress lar, but no interest, so next is to put it in the bank lor. I know nuts about investments and don’t think I am willing to do so. Had to start thinking about saving for the kids’ education!

T_T As the kids grow older..that’s where the expenses really start racking up man.

Been trying to squeeze as much out of ah kong as possible, being in the sandwiched class. You know..not poor enough to get more subsidies (ie. CHAS), but at the bottom of the next benchmark. Kua kua. But hey, we cool okay. Just manage within our means lor.

So what we’ve squeezed so far is from CDA and Medisave grants. Quentin’s racked up quite a bit of medical bills which we used his CDA to pay for (when we didn’t know about the Medisave grant yet), so there isn’t much left to pay for school fees..until jeng jeng jeng jeng! Can tap into Sarah’s CDA to pay for school fees too! Phew. That is effectively give us 50% discount on school feels liao. Thankyouberrymuch, ah kong! I only knew that we could use sibling’s CDA to pay for medical fees, didn’t know it applied to school fees too. Err, thank you Sarah hor.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I made the husband relook at his tax submission cos I realised that there was so much we could claim as a tax deductible. Parenthood tax rebate, insurance tax rebate, Qualifying Child Relief, Working Mother’s Child Relief (er, not me lah..not yet but one day!). Can claim quite a fair bit leh. Sure as hell bring me back to the days where I would scrutinise my tax and try as reduce my taxes cos I was a poor student in Australia. Very painful to pay AUD$8k in taxes. So very very thankful for low tax rates in SG.

Man..we are only 5.5 years into being parents..I think the real deal is starting soon. Next year, we’ll say hello to textbooks, uniforms and stationery.

Category: Daily, Kids, Parenting

Review: Cherub Rubs for the kids and me + Giveaway

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Recently, the kind people from Cherub Rubs sent us a range of their products to try out. So for the past 3 weeks, we switched over to Cherub Rubs..and my verdict?

Argh..why do I need to share it with my kids?? hahaha

Just to give you a quick background, Cherub Rubs is an Australian brand and they have developed a range of organic skincare products suitable for newborns, kids, pregnant women and adults in mind, especially those with sensitive skin! Cherub Rubs is also certified organic by Australia’s National Standard for Organic Produce, which means they contact at least 70-95% certified organic ingredients! That is pretty high range in my opinion!

Now let me introduce you to some of my personal favourites:

Products for Indoors

School had just started so we started off with what I called the indoor range, products that we used on a regular basis.

250ml, $27.75

This is my favourite! To be honest, when I first used it, I was a little unsure of the scent. The lemon oil and tea tree oil scent did take a while getting used to, but I definitely loved how the body wash felt on my skin. The clean feeling and yet feeling very moisturised. I told Daddy Ting he can continue using our current bodywash all by himself whilst I used this with the kids! The whole family tried out the bodywash for the first week and Daddy Ting approves of it too. (probably explains why we finished it up so quickly haha)

I liked that there was still some minimal suds. I know there are emollient bodywashes around but the lack of suds bothered me. So this definitely had enough bubbles to keep me happy! I could also easily add it into Sarah’s bath (just a tinsy bit!) and it was enough to wash her and pat her with no rinsing.

When we had almost ran out of the bodywash, I switched back to my current bodywash and I could immediately feel the difference, and my skin got irritated that night. Gaaah. Time to get another bottle of the bodywash!

250ml, $27.75

The shampoo worked well for the boys, probably because they had finer hair. I have straw for hair (read: dry & frizzy hair), so whilst it made my hair feel smooth during the hair wash, it didn’t work for me after it dried. But it made the boys’ hair soft and left a really nice scent! The boys can really work up a sweat running around, so having that scent definitely helped reduced stinky hair. I did love smelling their hair when I am putting them to bed.

60g, $21.40

This came just in time. Sarah had suddenly developed a minor diaper rash so it was perfect timing. The consistency of the balm is more like a thick lotion than a paste, so it was very easy to spread and apply on the skin. It is also not very sticky, nor does it leave a white residue. Rubs in really well too. It worked as a barrier for Sarah, and will just require reapplication at every diaper change.

Sarah also has a persistence rash around her neck no thanks to her double chin. The folds just never get to see the daylight except for times when she is on her tummy.

The redness was significantly reduced the following day. To keep the redness at bay, we just applied it on a daily basis. Bonus use for the balm: you can even use it for chapped lips, cracked nipples, hands and cracked heels!

100ml, $24.75

This is another favourite, the Skin Soothe! Haha..you will see me talking up the products that I have really enjoyed and really liked. Why? I am an eczema sufferer and post-partum eczema is annoying. Quentin inherited my sensitive skin, so it is really important for us to find products that would work for us.

Prior to receiving these products from Cherub Rubs, Quentin had been scratching his thighs near his groin on an on-off basis in his sleep. It was annoying. On a bad occasion, he had scratched it enough for the skin to be broken and it would sting really badly when he peed, even in his diaper. He would cry. This occurred during the time where we were toilet training him. We had creams that would soothe the broken skin but didn’t stop the itching.

But this bottle of Skin Soothe appears to have stopped the problem! What I really liked about it is that it contains aloe vera. It is not greasy and dries off very quickly, also has a nice cooling sensation, which I assume comes from the Witch Hazel. And it seems to do the job too! We didn’t need a lot of it to apply either. That blob you see on Daddy Ting’s palm? That is enough to apply on Quentin’s groin plus both thighs. It spreads out very easily. I tried Skin Soothe on one leg, whilst using another organic cream on the other leg. Both do the job of stopping the itch and soothing the skin, however, given the option, I would choose Skin Soothe on the basis that it is non-greasy, doesn’t leave that gluggy residue on my skin. I find my skin gets aggravated very easily if there is a greasy residue.

So..Quentin stops scratching at night with daily application of Skin Soothe and my eczema is easier to manage too, definitely a win for us!

Products for the Outdoor

Now, moving on to the range for outdoors (L-R): Skin Guard Plus, Scatterscreen, & Scatterbugs . Guess what? All 3 outdoor products contain bug protection! Yep, which means their sunscreen also contains bug repellent. Save space and money especially if you are going to the beach!

100ml, $27.75

If you have been looking for sunscreen that is suitable for newborns, then the Scatterscreen is it. What I like about it is the low SPF that makes it suitable for newborn skin. SPF8. Yes, you are thinking, ‘whaaat?? What kind of protection does that offer??’ Well, the higher SPF a sunscreen is, it would also mean the higher amount of mineral oxide it will contain to offer the protection, which could also mean there would be a higher chance of more chemical filters being added in! And we all know that we want our products kept as natural as possible! Cherub Rubs recommends hourly reapplication for sufficient coverage. Besides, babies and toddlers should not be exposed to the sun for too long hours anyways. I can live with that.

Sunscreen at Wild Wild Wet

Sunscreen at the ECP

Sunscreen for everybardee!

Verdict: I like that the Scatterscreen is not greasy or pastey like regular sunscreen. It doesn’t even come across as sticky. The kids and us used it liberally at Wild Wild Wet (3pm to 6.30pm) and at the East Coast Park (9 – 11am) and none of us got burnt! Definitely had a tan line but skin was well moisturised and protected. It is also water repellent but washes off easily with regular bodywash. There you go, SPF8. It doubling as a bug repellent..definitely a bonus.

And trust Cherub Rubs to come up with two range of bug repellent: one for newborn and toddlers, the Scatterbug, and another for older kids and adults, Skin Guard Plus

100ml, $25.35

Cherub Rubs uses lemon eucalyptus oil instead of the popular citronella oil. Lemon eucalyptus oil is gentler on the skin as compared to citronella and has been found to repel mosquitoes for up to 6 hours!

Sarah approves!

What I like about the Scatterbug: it is aloe vera based and comes in a semi-gel like consistency, making it very easy to spread out. It doesn’t leave a sticky residue, which would make the kids really comfy and yet still offering some level of protection.

100ml, $25.35

product test at Coney Island

product test at the ECP

The Skin Guard Plus contains more lemon eucalyptus oil as compared to the Scatterbugs. It seems to leave a slightly sticky residue on my palms after application, though it is fine on the skin. It is not THAT sticky, but the sensation was similar to the feeling after one has used a hand santiser gel. That kind of tacky feeling. Not too big of an issue. I’m more concerned about coverage and it has worked during the times we used it! No one got bitten, so yay!

Overall, I really like this range of products mostly due to it being non-greasy. The scent is a bonus! The sunscreen+repellent combo? Genius. I mean the times you probably need repellent, would also mean you would need sunscreen right? See, save money.

Cherub Rubs range of products are available at the following retail stores:

Big Llittle Me
Redmart
– Selected Guardian outlets;
– Watsons outlets;
– Sasa stores;
– Isetan;
– OG;
– Medi-ya
– Takashimaya
– selected Kiddy Palace outlets

Cherub Rubs will also be at the Supermom Baby Fair at Marina Bay Sands from 17-19 Feb! You can find them at J02B. And thanks to Cherub Rubs, I have a hamper worth $180 to giveaway!

To participate, all you need to do is

1. Like Cherub Rubs Singapore on Facebook
2. Like Just some Tings on Facebook
3. Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page. and tell me which product you would love to try and why.
4. Contest ends 20th February 2017, 2359hrs and winners will be notified by 22nd February 2017. Winners will be selected at random.

Disclaimer: tings.sg received the above products for review purposes. No monetary compensation was given. All opinions are solely mine and are written as objectively as possible.

 

Category: Kids, Reviews | Tags: ,

Review: Wild Wild Wet @ Downtown East

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welcome to Wild Wild Wet

With an extended long weekend this lunar new year..we figured why not extend it a little further and take the boys to check out Wild Wild Wet at Downtown East? I mean..come on..all of us were still in major holiday mood lor. I had showed Daddy Ting a photo thata a friend had taken of the waterpark and we were keen on checking the place out already.

Wild Wild Wet opens at 1pm, so we waited for the boys to be done with kindy before heading out with the village (my parents, my sister, us and the kids).

Perfect weather? Check. Free Pioneer Generation ticket? Check. NTUC member? Check. A lot of good deals!

Stepping into the waterpark..we were pretty awed by it. For the price of the tickets, this was really a water theme park on its own. We spent 4 hours there, says a lot about how much the kids and adults (actually only my sister and Daddy Ting) enjoyed! The rest of us just chilled at a sheltered table.

hmm where to go

Where to bring the kids

Obviously the kids were of priority, and upon changing, Oliver ran straight for the Splash Play. It was a little wading pool, with a mini slide and lots of fountains. This would be your usual water play area that you would find at malls like Kallang Wave Mall or Tampines 1. The simple stuff, but suitable for very young children. The floors are tiled.

Once the boys warmed up, they proceeded to Kidz Zone, with bright colourful slides. What I liked about this area that the water area has individual lanes cordoned for each slide, so that kids will not venture into another lane unknowingly and get hit by kids coming down the slide. The blue slide on the left is also wide enough for kids to take a float and slide down it.

If you are organising a birthday party, you can hold one at Neptune’s Cove, which is right next to another children’s play area, the Professor’s Playground. The boys were a little too apprehensive about this one, it was probably meant for older kids.

Professor’s Playground

 

The kids can also slowly drift along the Shiok River, which is a canal like water play area (water depth around 1m). You can rent a float and gradually drift around the loop.

Shiok River rules

Daddy Ting & the boys

There are life vests available for non-swimmers and kids to done on. So even if you don’t wish to rent a float, the kids can pretty much drift in the life vests.

life vests of various sizes

ermahgad. too cute!

Last but not the least for the young ones, the Tsunami, which is a man-made wave pool.

The Tsunami

For the older kids, they can also go on The Waterworks and Ular-lah

steps leading up to the two slides

The Waterworks (smaller yellow slide) & the Ular-lah (blue & yellow slide)

Now..if the adults do get some spare time after following the kids around, you definitely need to check out Slide up! OMG..it gave me the chills just watching people get on it. The steep slope!

Rules for taking the slide

height requirement

OMGGGGGGGG

The other slide that had my heart up my throat was the Torpedo

The Torpedo

The opening of the slide is also so steep! Who in the right mind would go on it?? Okay..apparently my husband and sister did. So basically, as you jump into the slide, there is some water propulsion to cushion your journey down. According to Daddy Ting, you pretty much can’t yell your way down cos water will just go in your mouth. Hahaha. But the loops on the slide tho..it’s like a water rollercoaster without the seats.

There were a couple of other slides but they were currently not opened (Free Fall, Kraken Racers, Vortex & Royal Flush). What caught my eye was the Royal Flush. It looked MASSIVE from where we were seated. I reckon it would be something similar to slide up except there would be more people a tube and sliding round and round like we were gonna get flushed down the toilet bowl.

to be opened: Kraken Racers, Vortex, & Free Fall

Phew..I think I have more or less exhausted the types of areas there are. Moving on to amenities. This water theme park is definitely equipped with the necessities. Cabanas for rent, beach chairs, sheltered benches (if you are cheapo-nanas like me).

at our bench, celebrating the boys’ lunar birthday

Cabana for 6 for rent!

close up of Cabana

Cabana rates

Other amenities include locker rental services, children showers, handicap toilets and baby care rooms

Chidren Showers

Locker rentals (charges by size of locker per 4 hours)

2 baby care rooms available

Conclusion?

We love the place. We love that it is outdoor, and there is a lot of room around, and a lot of slides. We went during the off-peak season, on a Wednesday afternoon from 3-6.30pm. The boys only decided they had enough because they were hungry. Speaking of which, you don’t have to worry about starving! There is McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, NTUC foodfare, Subway, to name a few, just 2 mins away from the entrance. So very convenient!

I was looking through the Wild Wild Wet website and I just realised that they also have baby water carriers too! If I had known earlier, I would have brought my swim gear and take Sarah with me! Welp, there’s always a next time!

Daddy Ting said if we lived right next to Downtown East, he wouldn’t have hesitated to buy the annual pass so we could go there every week. Hahaha. Okay lah, we live in the East..so still go chance to go again!

Entrance rates can be found here. And don’t forget your NTUC card if you have one! #auntiemode