Our washer has died...

Our 2nd hand washer has died after 6 years of usage at my sis in law place + 1.5 years of usage at our place.

Last night, maid was crying for a new one but I had night calls and hus asked him to hand wash. And she did...






I'm thinking should i get a Top load vs front loading:

A top-load washing machine is usually cheaper, but also less water-efficient. Top loaders are also faster than front loaders, with the average wash cycle around 30-40 mins. One biggest pro of top load is can throw in additional clothes in mid if washing. However they are much LESS gentle than front-loaders.

A front-load washing machine has many pros, mostly it is gentle on clothes, water efficient, quieter, can handle larger loads and has the advantage of being able to accommodate a dryer on top or providing some flat work surface.

Cons include having to bend over a bit to attend the load, more expensive at time of purchase, more electricity used as it takes a longer washing time and comes in limited color and design options.

Still can't make up my mind... I prefered a front load as it's more gentle to the clothes, but hus preferred to top load as it's cheaper.
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Update 2nd Sept:
We went to courts and Gain City yesterday night to source for a washer... after listening to the promoter and also some researched online, we decided to go for electrolux front load washing machine. We saw one which is 6kg at $649.. hus and i looked at each other and says this is the one. The Washing Capacity is good, the size is smaller then others model, price is reasonable. BUT no immediate avaliable stock, since we cant wait till Mid-Oct. We went for a bigger in size 7kg EWF10751 http://www.electrolux.com.my/node38.aspx?productid=46738 and after some bargaining, we paid $819 with free delivery.

H&M SINGAPORE

When i'm in Hong Kong/US, H&M is a shop that i must shopped in... and will filled half of my luggage with H&M items.. From Janelle's to Mommy... AND they are finally coming to Singapore. 3rd September (Saturday), Grand opening of first flagship store in Singapore @ Orchard Building (beside Orchard Shopping Center).

The first 300 customers will receive a $20 loaded gift card, H&M limited edition umbrella, latest Autumn magazine and enjoy fantastic opening offers !

http://www.hm.com/sg/

I want to be there.... i shall apply half day leave from hus. :P

Our new entertainer - Chicken little

See how Janelle was entertained by Chicken little. :)

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Teacher's Day is coming

When We are doing window shopping with Janelle on Sat, "Happy Teacher's Day" banner at those gift shops catches my attention. Yes, 1st September is teacher's day..

Was at bugis junction's "gift a name", i found the items was unique as in the packaging are not commonly seems in those normal bookstore or departmental stores. The price are very reasonable,$3.90 per item/box. It comes with paper clips, pens, flowers, bears, calculator etc with the theme of apple. i was told that the boss designed the gifts.. Grab a couple of items for Janelle's Teacher, who had been working very hard for janelle development.



Hmm, don't remember my mom did that for me during my school days.. Time had change. When I was wrapping the gifts, I should get more for 3Js... I doubt their parents have the thought or tine to do these.

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Happy birthday dear

Today is my hus birthday, he took a day off but am too busy with work, not able to apply leave. Not even a dinner outside as mommy got night calls. Had a simple cake cutting and that's it.

It's hus's birthday, not Janelle.. If you wonder why there's a 3 on the cake, it's because we used it to mark the "30"s and uses the small candles for the remaining. :) my maid innovative. Initially bought that for Janelle, but we didnt have the chance to used it, so now it's comes in handly for daddy's.

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PinSi Mooncake

Dear Readers,

PinSi is giving my blogshop (our little sweeties) a 20% discount on their mooncake. If you are interested to tag on my purchase, please drop me email ahevon@yahoo.com / facebook PM / comments. Janelle and myself will provide free delivery to our reader if you purchase 2 boxes and above. Cheers. http://www.pinsi.com.sg/

Janelle's stunt

Innovative?

Taxi vs Car

This is the first time I let maid and janelle take a taxi to and fro school themselves. Mama is very sick to drive them to school today.

Guess this week will have to take this arrangement as mommy car is still at workshop and replacement is due to return. Nowsaday renting a car can be quite expensive, $90 + 10 insurance + 7% GST.. Exclude petrol somemore. Getting my husband to take taxi to work, from punggol to tuas should be abt $25 * 2 + janelle school $13 * 2, its still cheaper than renting a car. But it's so inconvenient, We might not get taxi at punggol area at anytime, most of the time need to on call. At times, there isn't any taxi available. Will be canceling all the therapy this week, taxi at peak hours + therapy fee can cost me a bomb.

During peak hour, from punggol to KKH, plus on call + ERP + surcharge of peak hour it cost me $30.. goodness me.

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It Takes Two to Talk — The Hanen Program

For the past 2 months, my saturday morning was spent at KKH for "It Takes Two to Talk — The Hanen Program" for Parents of Children with Language Delays. In a small, personalized group setting, and together with 8 helpful parents to learn about practical strategies to help our children learn language naturally throughout their day together.

From this program, i learnt alot more than just strategies (ie: OWL, SPARK, 4S etc) that taught by the therapist, also i learnt from the parents on parenting tips on their special needs child and the never says dies attitude. By seeing them, i've been encouraged to do more with Janelle. Indeed, they are the greatest parents i have met. Thank You guys very much for all the tips.. please do keep in contact.. cheers

Here's some of the strategies i have learnt>
Observe - what Janelle us interested in? what Janelle is telling me?
Wait - To give Janelle time to start interaction with me, to give janelle time to response
Listen - to let Janelle know her message is important.
and WAIT was something i'm not doing well.. I have understand that each children response time is different, and janelle needs slightly more time then normal kids.. Hence, now i will wait a little longer for janelle response. For example: just before i carry her, i will tell her "mama carry UP"... and will count 1..2..3... and wait for janelle to says "UP". at times she did it before i count 1..2..3.. of cos sometime i didnt get response from her.. But i will not give up, i believe she can..

Special needs child benefit more on routines, hence SPARK need to introduced into all the games or daily life activities:
Start the game the same each time
Plan for her to take turn
Adjust when she is familiar to the game; for her to lead
Repeat and Repeat and Repeat
Keep the ending the same each time
and yes, this strategies worked for Janelle.. However, at this point of time, she can do 2 rounds of the same game before she run away. the benefit is for her to engaged to the game for a longer period of time, interacting, and able to initial the same if she likes. Mommy is trying very hard to extend the game time with her. I have been doing this many months without noticing it... each time i will have the same actions and used the same words to her for wear and take off shoes. Now she see me sitting down on the floor near the door with her shoe, she will automatically come near me and sit on my lap, i will help her to wear/take off the shoes and let her do the strip.. and she is doing well. :)

I think the challenge i have with Janelle is that one adult is avaliable each time... some activities it needs 2 adults - 1 to hand over hand and 1 to do the intraction. i think i need to think of some ways.. maybe getting a mirror to put infront of us when playing with her...

She is turning 3 today..

Winner for 1 year supply of Kao Laundry products

About a month ago, i saw an Kao adv on color blench from the nuffang ads on a blog. http://www.kaolaundry.com.sg/ I clicked on it and "BRIGHTENS COLOUR", "REMOVES STUBBORN STAINS" on Colour Bleach catches my attention. It stated its SAFE on COLOURED and white clothes, which is exactly what I need. but not sure how true was it hence requested for a sample to test it on.

When the sample is here, I thought, isn’t bleach supposed to work ONLY on whites? So, I decided to test it out on one piece first … Saw a cushion which janelle used it whenever she is taking her milk or medicine, the cushion cover were filled with Chocolate milk and medicine drips, Milk stains, and Dirt.





This was what I did:
- Filled up slightly less than half of a pail with warm water
- Poured some Kao Colour Bleach powder
- Soaked the cushion for about 2 hours. The water was black and the colour of the cover doesnt "came off" at all.
- Throw it into the washing machine and washed with other coloured clothes.

Next morning when i check the result of the cover, my maid told me "mom, the white very white, the red very red".. and when i saw the result i was like "wah"... the stains and dirt on the cover were all GONE. Yes, as stated in the ads, it helps to BRIGHTENS COLOUR and REMOVES STUBBORN STAINS. and it smelled nice, it's doesnt has the chlorine smell. It is a chlorine-free, oxygen bleach that also protects colours while removing stains! Thumb Up!

Love this product immediately after the first try. Submitted my review of the product to the link provided on the sample.. bought my very first bottle of Kao Blench Colour on my next visit to supermarket.. and had introducted it to my mom who was having headache how to wash my niece and nephew uniforms (how to keep the whites and yet keep their name tag coloured). Now my mom is the lover of Kao Blench Colour as it was the answer to her questions.

This morning, when i checked my yahoo email, SURPRISE... I'm won a 1 year supply of Kao Laundry products.. So excited and run out to tell my hus and maid and now writing on my blog to share with all...



...

The ‘Review and Win’ Promotion ends 12th August but it's ok, you still can get a free sample and try out this wonderful product.

GET A FREE SAMPLE
For Singapore residents, you can get free samples of Kao Colour Bleach Powder 30g!
All you need to do is : - Go to http://www.kaolaundry.com.sg/

...

A morning at USS

Had a couple of tickets left over from the previous visit to USS, we made a trip down on sunday morning.. With hus around, don't want to spent more to buy express ticket, dont want to wait in a longer Q, don't want to play excited play, we completed one round in 2 hrs time. Yes, What a waste!!!




































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An evening at RWS

Brought janelle and hus to sentosa rws for a walk and dinner with SIL... Janelle was so happy when she saw the mini stroller in candylioius, she went wild. Grab one and run all around leaving daddy and auntie chasing and protecting the selves and customers.










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I have to face it and get over it soonest possible.


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Good bye grandma..

Aug 4th, she had leave us at the age of 91. Her unselfish love had blessed her witnessed 5 generations and had hundred of grandchildren sending her.

The sad things was till now, I have yet to bring janelle and visit her. Always do things when it comes to ur mind, 有心无力will only leaves u regrets.





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She says ....

With routine, Janelle knows how to says "UP" when she want me to carry her up to the bed for milk every morning.. I used to count "1..2...3.. Up" before i carry her to the bed... then slowly when i count "1..2...3.." and she says "Up" and now, she comes to me and says Up herself without counting.. :) mommy 6 months hardwork is not wasted..

At times, when she is playing alone at a coner, or on the floor beside my working area.. i heard her saying "Daddy... Daddy.. Daddy"... And there was once, she run towards hus when he is reading newspaper and called him "Daddy", hus eyes immediately filled with tears... Guess he had waited for this moment very long... of cos, You want her to says the 2nd time, it's depends very much on her mood. so now, when she is in mood and missed her daddy.. "Daddy.. Daddy.. Daddy" still around her mouth but infront of hus.. he will need alittle more patience and luck..

Yesterday night, after work, i sat down with Janelle and we sang along with YouTube's ABC clip. When the music ended, she looked at me and says "Again"... Mommy jumped up with joy, though that's the first and last time i heard her saying that but i believe it will come very very soon...

Janelle, mommy waiting to hear more words from you... Jiayou!!!

Instagram photos

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Online Shopping

From parent support group, a mummy shared with us a online shopping URL where we can get milk powder and diaper at a lower price... At times, they will give out promotion price, for example last week, when i checked the Mama Poko easy fit, it's at $13, today i check, it's on sales at $11.. Time to stock up.. :) Bought Pediasure 1.8kg at $68 (Supermarket is selling abt $70-$72) and Mama Poko Easy Fit $11 (Supermarket is selling $13.90). Delivery is FREE for each order above $200.00. A delivery fee of $10.00 applies for urgent orders and orders below $200.00.

If you are interested, feel free to check this out: http://luvbabies.kimsang.com.sg/.

Nanny vs Maid

After so much things happened to Janelle and Maid lately. Toggling in my mind of getting nanny help va Maid to take care of Janelle. Why nanny? I'm thinking Nanny will definitely be more experience taking care of children (toilet training, feeding, talking to children etc) as compared to the maid. Of cos, Nanny will be day care only and i will continue take care of her in the night.. Then will need to do housework, etc etc. Talked to husband, he is ok with the idea, but he has a concern - when he is not in town which is 80% of the time, when i have night concall that is 20% of the time, when i'm away for weekend part time work, - who will take care of janelle and me... Janelle is really not a easy child, she needs accompanies, she hated to be alone. Whenever she is alone, she is scream and cries, which will make things more difficult if just both of us at home... Tried asking around for nanny over the weekend, through nanny agency, my aunt, my mom's friends and my friend's mom... no luck!! Nanny would prefer to take care of them since they are baby, as it's easier for them to adept new environment.
Now, i guess maid is my only choice. Need to change a new maid, as this one is really out of hand.