Sofzsleep Through The Night {Discount Code + Giveaway}

When bedtime rolls round and it's time to settle down to sleep, do you know what this family zeroing in on?

PILLOWS. (Ok, and mummy's elbow for Noey, if he could. Yes, he still tries to reach for it when he thinks I'm not paying attention!)

Noey has two, Mei has two, and the husband… well, he'd have five if I didn't object! Seriously, I'm not even kidding. 

So, as you can imagine, the family was incredibly excited to be given the new Sofzsleep Classic Latex Pillow. More pillowzzz! Everyone was eager to test it out and it quickly became one of the favourites. Here's why:

1. Great Support -- The chief reason that everyone gave the Sofzsleep Classic Latex Pillow the thumbs up was that it was great to sleep on! The pillow was low with a slight contour to the centre, making it comfortable for the kids as well as us adults. Offering the right amount of support, it was easy to fall asleep on and offered the right amount of neck support.

2. 100% Latex -- One of the reasons why the Sofzsleep Classic Latex Pillow offers such good support is because it is made of 100% certified latex. Latex has a natural elasticity and I love how it moulds to the shape of your head and yet springs back in shape once your head leaves the pillow. This latex pillow never needs fluffing and the material is cool and comfortable all night long.

3. Dust Mite Resistant -- Because the pillow is made from 100% premium grade latex, it is dust mite resistant, something that I really appreciate as a mum trying to keep my family safe and healthy. Latex also has natural anti-microbial properties, and is resistant to mould, mildew and fungus. 

4. Good Size -- This pillow is a comfortable standard size, which means it fits into all regular pillow cases. It also fits two cheeky tikes when they choose to!

Thank you Sofzsleep for more comfortable nights! For more information on Sofzsleep's latex pillows and beddings, do visit their website at www.sofzsleep.net and the Sofzsleep Facebook Page. Sofzsleep is also having a special promotion: from 22 Nov 2014 to 4 Jan 2015, get a 15% discount off all products by quoting "Life is in the Small Things"! Place your order through:

• the Sofzsleep Facebook Page (send them a private message); or
• calling 61004569 or e-mailing enquiries_sg@sofzsleep.com

Pillows for the new year, anyone?

GIVEAWAY!

And we have a giveaway for all blog readers too with 1 SOFZSLEEP DESIGN PILLOW (full adult size, RRP: $118) to be won! Let the kids use this pillow or grab it for yourself! To enter this draw, you have to complete the following steps: 

1. Visit the Sofzsleep Facebook Page.

2. Visit the Life is in the Small Things Facebook Page

(While you're there, we would greatly appreciate it if you could like these pages!)

3. Comment on this Facebook photo telling me why you would like to win AND Tag a friend.

You have to complete ALL 3 STEPS to qualify so don't miss any out!

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to indicate that you've done the above. You can also get additional chances by completing the rest of the steps.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions:

• This giveaway ends on Fri 28 Nov 2014, 11.59pm and is open to Singapore residents only. 
• Winners will be contacted using the contact particulars provided when entering this giveaway and will have 24 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. 
• All incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries will be verified before the winners are announced. 
• To be fair to our sponsors, please note that all fake Facebook accounts (eg. accounts set up purely to take part in contests with no or very few real friends) will also be ineligible to win.

Good Luck!

* My pillow monsters gladly received the Sofzsleep Classic Pillow from Sofzsleep for the purposes of this review. All opinions remain our own.

Play, Learn and Explore with the Doctor For A Day App {Giveaway}

Since Noey recently declared his intention to be a doctor when he grows up, he was thrilled when I recently told him that I had just the thing for him to get started on his "training": the 'Doctor For A Day' app by Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital! 

Ok, this iPad-starved boy of mine would be thrilled play with any game on the iPad, but this game is one that I, at least, would be happy for him to be spending his screen time on.

The 'Doctor For A Day' App was developed by Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital following the overwhelming response to their 'Doctor For A Day' programme, and allows children to bring their role-playing experience back to their own homes. The first of its kind here, this edutainment application is filled with many learning opportunities to stimulate children's minds and rouse their curiosity about the medical profession. Better yet, children can earn points and unlock achievements while playing the games and exchange these for actual physical doctors' toys. 

Noey was certainly thrilled when I handed him to iPad to give it a go. I sat down next to him while he played and I confess there were times when I wanted to take it over and play on my own -- it's pretty fun! Here's what you can find on this app:

1. Doctor's Office -- Customise your very own doctor avatar to start. There are a whole host of options: you can choose the gender, skin colour, hair style, style of glasses (because all doctors wear glasses, yo. Must be the many years of hard studying...), and moustache (the girls get pretty hair accessories). You can also change the wallpaper for the room.  This is what Noey came up with. He's Dr Smith. Dr Smith earns tools for his doctor kit as he completes his tasks and Noey is just dying to get more stuff.

2. Little Surgeon -- Here the children are taken step by step through surgical procedures like a tumour removal surgery and a cataract surgery. They are taught to inject, incise, and suture, amongst other things. But first, don't forget to wash your hands! This game is easy enough for Mei to manage as well, which she does competently. 

3. Anatomy Memory -- A memory game where you learn the part of the body at the same time. There are three levels of difficulty and as it gets harder, you get more cards and race against the clock to complete. We had quite a bit of fun with this one, and found ourselves racing against each other to get the fastest time after a while!

4. Pharmacy Panic -- Take on the role of the pharmacist and dish out the correct medicine to your patients, but do it quick before their patience runs out! This time based challenge was my favourite. It was panic indeed for us, especially in the hardest level where it got tricky trying to get all the medication right within the time period and before the patients got grumpy! It certainly trains your observation skills and accuracy.

So, fun and educational? This certainly checks those boxes.

The rewards from playing with this app are real too, because from now till 12 noon on 25 November 2014, if you try your hand at the "Hard" level of Anatomy Memory and are among the top 400 players on the Leaderboard, you will receive a Golden Ticket to Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital's upcoming Doctor For A Day programme! You can read about Noey's experience during the first run of Doctor For A Day last year here. So if you're keen to let your kids be a Doctor For A Day, here's some incentive to download the app and get cracking! The 'Doctor For A Day' app is available for download on all iOS tablets (not the iPhone) and Android smartphones and tablets here. Recommended for 4 to 8 year olds.

GIVEAWAY! 

Thanks to Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, we also have A PAIR OF TICKETS to their popular Doctor For A Day programme to giveaway! This pair of tickets is for the session on Saturday, 6 December 2014 at 3.40pm. (The programme runs for 90 minutes.) Do note that the child has to be between 5 to 10 years old to participate in the programme.

To enter this draw to win a pair of tickets, you have to complete the following steps:

1. Like the Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital Facebook Page

2. Like the Life is in the Small Things Facebook Page

3. Comment on this Facebook photo telling me the names of two of the games you can find in the Doctor For A Day app, AND Tag two friends to join the giveaway as well!

4. Leave a blog post comment here telling me what you like best about the Doctor For A Day app, and leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.

You have to complete all 4 steps to qualify so don't miss any out! 

Terms & Conditions:

• The child must be between 5 years to 10 years of age to participate in the Doctor For A Day programme.
• This giveaway ends on Thurs 27 Nov 2014, 11.59pm and is open to Singapore residents only. 
• Winners will be contacted using the contact particulars provided when entering this giveaway and will have 24 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. 
• All incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries will be verified before the winners are announced. 
• To be fair to our sponsors, please note that all fake Facebook accounts (eg. accounts set up purely to take part in contests with no or very few real friends) will also be ineligible to win.

Good Luck!

[28 Nov 2014]
RESULTS!

Congratulations to Joanne Lee-Ho! You are the winner of the pair of tickets to Doctor For a Day! We will be in touch with you shortly on the registration for the event so please look out for our e-mail. Thank you all for participating!

Get in the Christmas Mood with Junior Claus {Giveaway}

As we wind down the year, the one thing we look forward to is Christmas. Get in the mood this year with The Little Company's latest production: Junior Claus!

In the North Pole, things are in disarray. With less children believing in Santa, the Belief-o-Meter falls to a dangerously low level, causing Santa to fall into a deep sleep. This allows Grumpo, the greedy elf to seize power as the Chief Inventor in Santa's workshop and put into action his sinister plan to ruin Christmas forever! Junior Claus, the rebellious heir to the immense empire in the North Pole is the only one who can stop Grumpo and save Santa, but will he do it? And will he be able to rekindle the Christmas spirit? Find out in Junior Claus, a musical production which promises to be heartwarming and a lot of fun!

Ticketing and Show Information

Season: 31 October to 14 December 2014
Venue: DBS Arts Centre -- Home of SRT
Performance Times: 
Ticket Prices: Weekdays $35 (Cat 1), $32 (Cat 2), Weekends $45 (Cat 1), $42 (Cat 2); There are also family packages available. 
Recommended for: 5 years and above
Duration: 1 hour 30 mins
Booking: At Sistic counters, at sistic.com.sg or by calling 63485555

GIVEAWAY!

Yes, we have a giveaway! Win A PAIR OF TICKETS to Junior Claus on 8 November 2014, 11am! 

To enter this draw to win a pair of tickets, you have to complete the following steps:

1. Like the Singapore Repertory Theatre Facebook Page

2. Like the Life is in the Small Things Facebook Page

3. Comment on this Facebook photo telling me why you want to watch this show, AND Tag a friend!

You have to complete all 3 steps to qualify so don't miss any out! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to indicate that you've done the above. You can also get additional chances by completing the rest of the steps.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions:

• This giveaway ends on Tues 4 Nov 2014, 11.59pm and is open to Singapore residents only. 
• Winners will be contacted using the contact particulars provided when entering this giveaway and will have 24 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. 
• All incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries will be verified before the winners are announced. 
• To be fair to our sponsors, please note that all fake Facebook accounts (eg. accounts set up purely to take part in contests with no or very few real friends) will also be ineligible to win.
• Tickets can be collected at the box office at the DBS ARts Centre an hour before the show.

Good Luck!

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Brings A Midsummer Night's Dream To Singapore! {Giveaway}

Shakespeare fans, you're in luck. 

It isn't everyday that a world famous theatre company comes into town to stage one of the bard's best known plays in its full glory -- and I have TICKETS TO GIVEAWAY!

As I mentioned in my previous post, come 13-16 November, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre will be performing A Midsummer's Night Dream at the Esplanade Theatre. Promising to be visual treat with stunning Renaissance costumes and staging, this production, directed by the acclaimed Dominic Dromgoole, will be a re-working of the Globe's award winning 2013 version.

If you are not familiar with the story, A Midsummer Night's Dream is the comic tale involving four young lovers and a group of amateur actors, and their interactions with a band of fairies in the forest through which they wander. Hermia loves Lysander and Helena loves Demetrius -- but Demetrius is supposed to be marrying Hermia… When the Duke of Athens tries to enforce the marriage, the lovers take refuge in the woods and wander into the midst of a dispute between the king and queen of the fairies. Throw in a group of amateur actors rehearsing the play for the Duke's upcoming wedding and some mischief and magic, and what you get is a glittering, hilarious and inventive play about the world's favourite past time -- falling in love. After all don't we all know that "the course of true love never did run smooth"?

Ticketing and Show Information

Season: 13 to 16 November 2014
Venue: Esplanade Theatre
Performance Times: Thurs and Fri 8pm; Sat 3pm and 8pm; Sun 3pm
Ticket Prices: $148, $128, $118, $98, $78 (Matinee tickets are $10 less)
Duration: 2 hours 40 mins + 15 minute interval
Booking: Sistic at sistic.com.sg or calling 63485555

I am tremendously excited to be catching this show in the coming weeks, and even more excited to be able to share that with you as, thanks to our generous sponsors, I have TWO PAIRS OF TICKETS to be given away! These tickets are for the following performances:

1) 1 pair of tickets for Saturday, 15 November, 3pm (Matinee Show)
2) 1 pair of tickets for Saturday, 15 November, 8pm (Evening Show)

To enter this draw to win a pair of tickets, you have to complete the following steps:

1. Like the ABA Productions Singapore Facebook Page

2. Like the Life is in the Small Things Facebook Page

3. Comment on this Facebook photo telling me which show (Matinee or Evening or either show) you'd like to win, AND Tag a friend!

You have to complete all 3 steps to qualify so don't miss any out! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to indicate that you've done the above. You can also get additional chances by completing the rest of the steps.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions:

• This giveaway ends on Fri 7 Nov 2014, 11.59pm and is open to Singapore residents only. 
• Winners will be contacted using the contact particulars provided when entering this giveaway and will have 24 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. 
• All incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries will be verified before the winners are announced. 
• To be fair to our sponsors, please note that all fake Facebook accounts (eg. accounts set up purely to take part in contests with no or very few real friends) will also be ineligible to win.
• The winners of this giveaway will be informed of the ticket collection details closer to the date and will have to collect the tickets at the times and locations stipulated, failing which the tickets will be forfeited. 

Good Luck!

(If you missed it previously, do check out our post with recommendations for Shakespeare stories for kids!) 

Hop & Honk {Giveaway}

You know the story of The Ugly Ducking and you know the story of The Frog Prince, but do you know what happens when one meets the other?

Find out in Hop & Honk, an all-new original production by iTheatre that will be coming your way at the end of this month! 

An ugly duckling who really does not fit in at home…
A frog who thinks he is a prince…
Both need a family.
Both need a best friend.
Both want to be loved but both are very very alone.

Join these two cute but confused creatures in their adventures and misadventures as they seek to find acceptance and security in this production that cleverly intertwines the classic fairy tales of The Ugly Duckling and The Frog Prince into an brand new family musical. 

"We are always on the lookout look for something new and exciting. Telling just one story can be fun, but we wanted to test the boundaries by combining and intertwining two seemingly quite different stories from two of history's most prolific children's authors, Hans Christian Andersen and The Brothers Grimm. It's unusual, but it is a very fun challenge – and the result we think will be double the entertainment value, throwing new light on some interesting aspects of both stories," explains ITheatre's artistic director Brian Seward, the creative force behind Hop & Honk. 

Promising top-class performers, toe-tapping music, spectacular sets, glittering costumes, magical lighting and jaw-dropping puppetry, while bringing across key values like racial harmony, tolerance and understanding as well as the importance of self-worth, teamwork and creative thinking, Hop & Honk sounds like a show that's not to be missed!

Ticketing and Show Information

Season: 29 October to 15 November 2014
Venue: Drama Centre Theatre, National Library Building
Ticket Prices: $32 (Cat 1), $30 (Cat 2)
Recommended for: 4 to 18 year olds and families
Duration: 85 minutes + 15 minute interval (100 minutes in total) 
Booking: Sistic at sistic.com.sg or calling 63485555

GIVEAWAY!

Yes, we have a giveaway for you! Win a FAMILY PACK OF 4 TICKETS to Hop & Honk on Saturday 8 November 2014 at 7.30pm! Please note that the winner will have to pick up the tickets at ITheatre's office at 27 Kerbau Road by 24 October 2014. To stand a chance of winning those tickets, you have to complete the following steps:

1. Like Life is in the Small Things on Facebook

2. Like the ITheatreSG on Facebook

3. Comment on this Facebook Photo telling me why you should win, AND Tag a friend! 

You have to complete all 3 steps to qualify so don't miss any out! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to indicate that you've done the above. You can also get additional chances by completing the rest of the steps.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions:

• This giveaway ends on Sun 19 Oct 2014, 11.59pm and is open to Singapore residents only. 
• Winners will be contacted using the contact particulars provided when entering this giveaway and will have 24 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. 
• All incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries will be verified before the winners are announced. 
• To be fair to our sponsors, please note that all fake Facebook accounts (eg. accounts set up purely to take part in contests with no or very few real friends) will also be ineligible to win.
• The winner of this giveaway will have to pick up the tickets at ITheatre's office at 27 Kerbau Road by 24 October 2014, failing which they will be forfeited. 

Good Luck!

Hairy Maclary and Friends are Coming! {Giveaway}

We are always thrilled to see a familiar face make the jump from the pages of a book to living 3D on the stage, and this time, it's Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy who will be taking centre stage soon in Hairy Maclary and Friends.

We were first introduced to Hairy Maclary and his motley crew of friends when the kids' Godmother gifted us with a set of Hairy Maclary books some years ago. "These are classics!" she said, and hugely popular with kids in Australia and the author's native New Zealand. Upon reading the books, I could see why. Written in rhyming verse, the books proved to be enjoyable read-alouds. The clever use of repetition made it easy for the kids to follow along, even Mei, and soon they both able to recite along as we got to know Hercules Morse as big as a horse, Bottomley Potts covered in spots, Muffin Maclay like a bundle of hay, Bitzer Maloney all skinny and bony, and Schintzel von Krum with the very low tum.

Since we heard Hairy will be coming, we've pulled out all our books and reacquainted ourselves with Hairy and gang. The show promises to be packed with live music, singing, singing and colourful costumes, suitable for ages 2+ and up so we really looking forward to it!

Hairy Maclary and Friends will be playing only 7 shows from 10 to 12 October 2014, so don't miss this chance to get to know these loveable dogs! Visit ABA Productions or hairymaclaryshow.co.uk

Ticketing and Show Information

Season: 10 to 12 October 2014
Venue: Drama Centre Theatre, National Library Building
Performance Times: Friday 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am, 2pm, 4.30pm
Ticket Prices: $62 (Cat 1), $52 (Cat 2), $42 (Cat 3), $35 (Cat 4) (Quote ABA2014 and get 10% off all tickets!)
Booking: Sistic at sistic.com.sg or calling 63485555

GIVEAWAY!

Thanks to our lovely sponsors we have a FAMILY PACK OF 4 CATEGORY 1 TICKETS (worth $248)  to giveaway! The tickets are for the opening performance on 10 October at 5pm. To enter this draw, you have to complete the following steps:

1. Like the ABA Productions Singapore Facebook Page

2. Like the Life is in the Small Things Facebook Page

3. Share this Facebook photo and Tag a friend!

You have to complete all 3 steps to qualify so don't miss any out! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to indicate that you've done the above. You can also get additional chances by completing the rest of the steps.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway ends on Mon 6 Sept 2014, 11.59pm and is open to Singapore residents only. Winners will be contacted by e-mail and will have 24 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. All incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries will be verified before the winners are announced. To be fair to our sponsors, please note that all fake Facebook accounts (eg. accounts set up purely to take part in contests with no or very few real friends) will also be ineligible to win.

Good luck!

The 9-Step Guide to Enjoying the Skyline Luge Sentosa {Giveaway}

It's the school holidays! Time to get out and play!

We'll be headed out of town this term break, but if we were in Singapore, I know we would definitely be paying a visit to Sentosa. Ever since they got their first taste it earlier this year, the kids have repeatedly asked to go back to the Skyline Luge Sentosa for another turn at whizzing down the hill. So during the June holidays we did just that to satisfy their need for speed, as well as check out Skyline Luge Sentosa's newly upgraded facilities.

If you're planning your own Luge ride, here is our step-by-step guide to having an enjoyable time:

STEP 1: BUY YOUR TICKETS

Tickets please! If you find the choice of tickets at the counter slightly mind-boggling, you are not alone! We certainly felt that way when we first visited. The first thing to figure out if you're riding with children is whether they will be riding solo or in tandem with you. To do so, do keep in mind the height and age restrictions for solo riders.

Skyride:

• Min. height 85cm to ride the Skyride with an adult
• Min. height 135cm to ride the Skyride alone

Luge:

• 6 years and min. height 110cm to ride Luge alone
• Children under the age of 6 years can ride tandem with an adult

If your child is riding tandem with you, you can purchase a "child doubling" top up for an additional $3 per skyride-luge ride. This child will therefore not count to the headcount for the rides. 

There are a variety of individual and family tickets available, with the multiple ride passes being more value for money. You should plump for multi-ride passes anyway because as their slogan says, once is never enough! We certainly know this from experience.

Individual tickets start at a single $17 for a Luge and Skyride combo while family tickets (for families with children under 16 years of age) start at $39 for a four-ride family pass. Get more information on ticket prices here.

STEP 2: HOP ON TO THE SKYRIDE

The entrance to the Skyride is just behind the ticketing counter. Join the queue and hop on to the skyride, which is a continuous non-stop ride. The friendly staff will line you up (max 4 persons) and off you go!

This being an open chair lift that rises high above the ground, it can be a bit unnerving the first time round. Doubly so if you're riding with kids! I'm also always wondering if my slippers will slip off my feet on-route, so wear shoes with straps for peace of mind! Then sit back, relax and enjoy the view, which can be pretty spectacular, especially on a clear day. It isn't everyday that you get to look out to the horizon, even if we do live on an island!

Also, don't forget to look out the photo point along the way and flash your biggest smile! This is one of the photo points along the entire ride. There's another along the luge trail, before you reach the end point. 

STEP 3: CHECK OUT YOUR PICTURES

After smiling for the camera, don't forget to check out how the pictures turned out. These can be viewed and selected at the photo counters conveniently situated at the top of the hill right after you get off the Skyride. These have been recently renovated to add four more counters for a quicker and better experience. If you're going on multiple rides, you can ask the counter staff to hold your pictures so that you can subsequently select the best one.

STEP 4: GET IN THE LINE FOR FIRST-TIMERS

If it is your first ride of the day, get in the correct line for 1st time Luge riders. They will be able to identify you by the fact that you do not have a Luge stamp on your hand so don't get in the wrong line! The line for first-timers is typically quite long and the wait can be about 30 mins during peak periods, but be patient. The queue takes a bit of time as the staff will take each group of riders through a quick safety briefing and check that they can manage their Luge before letting them continue down the ride. If you are loathe to wait, do try to visit during off-peak hours. If you're going on second or subsequent ride, you can join the 2nd time riders queue which is much shorter and quicker.

STEP 5: GRAB A HELMET

Don't forget those helmets! The helmets are conveniently colour coded according to size: Green (XXS), Red (XS), Yellow (S), Blue (M), Orange (L). You can pick one up in the helmet bin situated along the queue path. 

STEP 6: SAFETY BRIEFING

Nearly there! While queuing, you would probably have noticed the instructional safety videos playing on screens overhead. These will give you an idea of what is coming up. When it's your turn, hop into a Luge and you'll be given a safety briefing and instructions on how to manoeuvre the vehicle. Simply place your feet on the foot rests and pull back hard on the handles. Release the tension on the handlebars by pushing them away from your body and you will feel the Luge start to roll forward. Pull hard to brake and turn the handlebars left and right like you would on a bicycle to turn. That's it!

Once they have ascertained that you are able to understand the basic workings of the Luge, you are allowed to roll forward to the brake test point for a final check. 

STEP 7: JUNGLE TRAIL OR DRAGON TRAIL?

Just one final decision: do you sped down the left and take the shorter and somewhat straighter 628m Jungle Trail, or the longer and more twisty 688m Dragon Trail? I personally prefer the Dragon Trail which I find more exciting with its many twists and turns, but Noey prefers the Jungle Trail, which allows him to go faster down the straights. I say, make sure you do both!

STEP 8: HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE!

The moment you've been waiting for: it's time to speed down the hill! Have fun! Watch out for folks around you and don't forget to smile at the camera towards the end!

STEP 9: DO IT AGAIN!

Inevitably, when we reach the bottom, the kids would be clamouring to do it again. Like they say, once is never enough!

EXTRA: DAY OR NIGHT? 

If you've ridden on the Luge before, I'm guessing that you, like us, rode in the day. But did you know that you can ride the Luge at night? The Skyline Luge Sentosa opens daily from 10am to 9.30pm, and according to my friends who have done it, offers a different and more thrilling experience in the cool night air as you navigate the turns on a track specially lit with RGB LED lighting. You can read more about night luging over at Owls Well, A Juggling Mom and Princess Dana Diaries.

You can also try it yourself for we have a special GIVEAWAY! That's right, we have THREE SETS OF 4-RIDE FAMILY PASSES (worth $39 each) to give away! All family deals include the Skyride to the top of the tracks and mulitple luge rides to share are applicable for families with children below 16 years of age. Children under 6 years or shorter than the required 110cm to ride alone may ride the Luge in tandem with a full paying adult.

To join this giveaway you have to complete the following steps:

1. Like the Skyline Luge Sentosa Facebook Page.

2. Like the Life is in the Small Things Facebook Page

3. Like and Comment on this Facebook photo, telling me what you like best about the Skyline Luge Sentosa!

You have to complete all 3 steps to qualify so don't miss any out! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to indicate that you've done the above. You can also get additional chances by completing the rest of the steps.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway ends on Wed 3 Sept 2014, 11.59pm and is open to Singapore residents only. Winners will be contacted by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. All incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries will be verified before the winners are announced. To be fair to our sponsors, please note that all fake Facebook accounts (eg. accounts set up purely to take part in contests with no or very few real friends) will also be ineligible to win.

Skyline Luge Sentosa
45 Siloso Beach Walk
Sentosa, Singapore 
Tel: +65 6274 0472 

Find out more at www.skylineluge.com or at their Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/skylinelugesentosa.

While you're at Sentosa, don't forget to check out the Sentosa Buskers Festival which is on this week from 6 to 14 Sep 2014! We had a lot of fun at the festival last year. (Click for last year's pictures!) In fact, when we saw the banners on a recent visit to Sentosa, Noey excitedly started recounting the acts he'd watched last year. Unfortunately he was a bit under the weather in the weekend so we were not able to go down and will be leaving on holiday later this week so I think we will be missing this year's edition. But if you're in town, do check it out. It is a lot of fun for the family!

* We thank Skyline Luge Sentosa for the media invitation and sponsorship of the giveaway passes. All opinions are, as always, authentically our own.

夜莺 The Nightingale in Mandarin {Giveaway}

As a parent who is really only proficient in English, I am always seeking out different ways and means to expose my children to the Chinese language. There's enrichment class of course, but I think seeing and hearing the language come to alive is one of the best ways to interest the kids in the language, and encourage them to use it.

Which is why I'm always very excited when I hear of Chinese plays or workshops where the children experience the Chinese language in a fun and interesting medium. Like 夜莺, the upcoming Mandarin version of The Nightingale. 

We caught The Nightingale in English and really enjoyed it (click here to read our review!) so I've no doubt the Mandarin version would be equally entertaining. In fact, being a story set in China, it only seems appropriate that this play be staged in Mandarin. Cast members Ann Lek and Timothy Wan will be continuing on to perform this play in Mandarin after starring in the English run (wow!) and will be joined by Edric Hsu and Joanna Dong, the latter of whom will be lending her lovely voice to the nightingale. It already sound like it would be a hit with the whole family. 

夜莺 will be staged at the DBS Arts Centre - Home of SRT from 18 Sep to 11 Oct 2014, with shows at 11am and 2pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, and at 10am on Tuesdays to Fridays. Tickets are priced on Weekdays at $25 (Cat 1) and $22 (Cat 2) and Weekends $35 (Cat 1) and $32 (Cat 2), and can be purchased from Sistic.

GIVEAWAY!

If you are keen to catch the play and missed your chance to win in our giveaway of a pair of tickets to The Nightingale back in August, you are in luck because I'm back with another a bigger giveaway:  a family pack of 4 TICKETS TO 夜莺 on Saturday 20 Sept, 11am!

To take part, you have to complete the following steps:

1. Like the Singapore Repertory Theatre Facebook Page

2. Like the Life is in the Small Things Facebook Page

3. Like and Comment on this Facebook photo, telling me the dates for the run of 夜莺!

You have to complete all 3 steps to qualify so don't miss any out! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to indicate that you've done the above. You can also get additional chances by completing the rest of the steps.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway ends on Sun 13 Sept 2014, 11.59pm and is open to Singapore residents only. Winners will be contacted by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. All incomplete entries will be disqualified.

Bubble Magic by Pep Bou in Singapore this September {Giveaway}

There is a certain magic to bubbles that we never quite outgrow. Every once in a while, my kids love to bring their bottles of bubble solution downstairs to the playground and it never fails to add some extra fun to playground time -- and make my kids instant hits with the neighbours!

We are but bubble novices, so I can imagine the excitement that will be generated will be multiplied 10-fold when the kids encounter award-winning and world-renowned bubble whizz, Pep Bou! From 9 to 14 September 2014, Pep Bou will be bringing a brand new show to town: Bubble Magic -- Pep Bou's Wonderful World of Bubbles!

Pep Bou has been playing with bubbles for more than three decades, delighting audiences of all ages and cultures around the world. In Bubble Magic, expect to be transported into a fantasy-land of beautiful illusions, with skilful trickery and a plethora of gags as this two-man show brings together the beauty of bubbles, clowning, ingenious lighting, music and crazy costumes. The whole family will be thrilled by fishbowl bubbles, animal bubbles, bubbles on a high wire, sliding bubbles, puppet bubbles, and even a train inside a bubbles tunnel! The show promises to be a blend of visual poetry and sheer fun in equal measure.

Here's a sneak preview:

 

Coming direct from its Europe-wide tour, Bubble Magic will run from 10 to 14 September 2014 at the Jubilee Hall at Raffles Hotel. Shows are at 1pm and 3.30pm on Wednesday and 11am and 1.30pm on Thursday to Sunday. Tickets are priced at $85 and $70, and can be purchased from Sistic.

GIVEAWAY!

And yes, we have ONE PAIR OF TICKETS to Bubble Magic to give away to a lucky reader! The tickets will be for Wednesday 10 Sept at 3.30pm. Perfect for an afternoon treat during the school holidays! To enter this draw, you have to complete the following steps:

1. Like the Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Facebook Page

2. Like the Life is in the Small Things Facebook Page

3. Like and Comment on this Facebook photo, telling me the dates and times of the Bubble Magic show in Singapore! 

You have to complete all 3 steps to qualify so don't miss any out! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to indicate that you've done the above. You can also get additional chances by completing the rest of the steps.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway ends on Wed 3 Sept 2014, 11.59pm and is open to Singapore residents only. Winners will be contacted by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. All incomplete entries will be disqualified.

P.S. If you'd like to make your own giant bubbles, this a great tutorial from ScissorsPaperStoneBlog!

The Nightingale by SRT {Giveaway}

It's time for another production by the Singapore Repertory Theatre! 

Last Saturday, Noey and I were treated to the opening performance of The Nightingale, the latest offering by SRT's The Little Company (TLC). Like Rapunzel, which we caught and loved earlier this year, The Nightingale is based on a well-known fairy tale, this time by Hans Christian Andersen. It tells the tale of the Emperor of China who hears and is enchanted by the song of a nightingale. Desiring to hear her song day and night, he puts her in a gilded cage to sing for his pleasure. But captivity wears on the nightingale, who eventually stops singing. At the same time, the Emperor is given a mechanical singing nightingale that he is able to make sing for him any time he chooses. What is to happen to the nightingale now? Will the Emperor see the folly of his actions? 

Three cheers for the Emperor of China!

I have always felt that TLC's productions are of a high quality and I was glad to find that The Nightingale featured the same good scripting and catchy songs that I've come to expect. I find it painful to watch shows where things are dumbed down for kids or that overly rely on physical humour. That was not the case here. In fact, the narration is in done in rhyming verse, something that I appreciated even if Noey might not have noticed. The music, with its catchy tunes, is also a draw. I liked the fact that different genres of music were used to differentiate the nightingales, with the real bird singing a lilting aria, and the mechanical bird singing to a hip hop beat. You can check out the following video to sing along to the mechanical bird's song!

What I did feel could have been done better was the audience participation portion of the play, which felt a bit like it was included in order that there be audience participation rather than being a necessary part of the play. The original story of The Nightingale is also not one of my favourites. Props however to the cast and crew for putting on an engaging show. Noey and I enjoyed it and he gave it five stars (out of five) when asked, so you know he thought it was great!

What the Emperor wants, the Emperor gets...

The Nightingale is now playing at the DBS Arts Centre - Home of SRT from 1 Aug to 14 Sep 2014, with shows at 11am and 2pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays, and at 10am on Tuesdays to Fridays. Tickets are priced on Weekdays at $25 (Cat 1) and $22 (Cat 2) and Weekends $35 (Cat 1) and $32 (Cat 2), and can be purchased from Sistic.

The Nightingale 夜莺 will also be staged in Mandarin from 18 Sep to 11 Oct 2014 following its run in English. You can buy tickets to The Nightingale 夜莺 here.

The Nightingale with the Emperor and the Kitchen Maid.

GIVEAWAY!

Here's a blog readers special: I have ONE PAIR OF TICKETS to the performance of The Nightingale on Saturday 30 Aug, 11am to give away! To enter this draw, you have to complete the following steps:

1. Like the Singapore Repertory Theatre Facebook Page

2. Like the Life is in the Small Things Facebook Page

3. Like and Comment on this Facebook photo, telling me why you would like to win the tickets.

You have to complete all 3 steps to qualify so don't miss any out! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to indicate that you've done the above. You can also get additional chances by completing the rest of the steps.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway ends on Mon 18 August 2014, 11.59pm and is open to Singapore residents only. Winners will be contacted by e-mail and will have 48 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. All incomplete entries will be disqualified.

P.S. There are another two pairs of tickets up for grabs over at Princess Dana Diaries for the show on Sunday 31 Aug, 11am! Hop over to enter!

*We received complimentary tickets to the show for the purpose of this review, and the giveaway tickets as well as the production photographs used in this post are courtesy of SRT. All opinions are, as always, strictly my own.

Child's Play at the National Museum of Singapore {Giveaway}

In addition to Masak Masak, Children's Season at the National Museum of Singapore this year also saw the launch of Play@NMS, the first dedicated area in the museum for young children. Tucked away on Level 3 of the museum, Play@NMS, unlike Masak Masak, is a permanent gallery designed with the purpose of helping children take their first-steps towards museum-going, with interactive exhibits and special activities that encourage learning through play. 

Stepping into the Concourse at level 1 of the museum, you will spy Play@NMS right at the top of a flight of stairs. Take the climb and this is what you'll find:

The EXPLORE gallery is the main play area, and this is divided into four sections, modelled after a home. Immediately past the door you'll find the Living Room, with a huge TV - and you as the star! The few times we visited, my little Miss enjoyed her "on-screen" opportunities, but what really got her attention were the comfy chairs, particularly the little one which was just her size. The big sofa on the other hand is an ideal slouchy spot and a great place to curl up with a book when you need a break from playing.

Not much my Mei loves better than to put on a show. Though she prefers it if no one's watching.

Puppets, to help you tell your own story!

Getting comfortable on a little chair made for little people.

Noey and his friends Dana and Isaac get comfortable.

Another popular area was the Kitchen. I don't know any child who doesn't love masak-masak, or pretend cooking, so as you can imagine, the kids were very happy messing in this area. There are two cooking stations, with one set a little lower for the smaller kids. You can also emboss a picture of a favourite Singapore dish, choosing between ice kachang, roti prata, chill crab and nasi lemak. You can later bring the picture over to another room to colour it. Personally I thought it would be better if they just set up a small table nearby for the kids to colour, that's exactly what they wanted to do once they embossed their pic.

Little T ponders the next dish he is going to whip up.

"Let's make Chilli Crab!" 

Getting familiar with the ingredients for different dishes.

Emboss a picture of your favourite Singapore dish.

The kitchen play area.

Colouring/Drawing on her embossed pic over in a separate room.

Behind the kitchen was Noey favourite area, the Bedroom. It was because of a comfy little tent which you could get into to watch some short films on the ceiling. He always spend a good amount of time in here every visit. In the other part of the Bedroom is a mirror with costume decals that kids can "try on" by positioning themselves accordingly. It was a bit of a letdown if you were expecting real costumes for dress-up. The kids didn't really bother trying them. 

Making themselves comfortable...

The last area is the Garden. It had a big tree and like a shape sorter, it had various flowers, leaves and fruit you could fit into it. Popular with the really little ones, though admittedly Mei's favourite thing to do was to carry the baskets for the shapes around!

Fitting in the leaves and flowers

Apart from the main hall, there is also an outdoor sundeck for kids to run around in and scribble on a giant chalkboard wall. This proved rather popular with our budding artists.

Scribble time!

In the weekends, there are also additional activities in the Create gallery where kids can do some art and craft. Play@NMS is recommended for kids aged 3-7, but I personally think kids 5 and under will enjoy it best. While I wish they had done more to make the play spaces more engaging and perhaps more relevant to the National Museum's positioning as a history museum, I am glad that there is now a dedicated space for kids, as I think this is the right step to getting kids (and parents) into the museum. Museums are in fact one of my favourite places to visit, and the kids and I have had many wonderful experiences in museums in Australia and the UK, and Play@NMS as a step in the right direction to make museums places of interest, fun and learning for kids.

Another way to reach kids is through books and in conjunction with the launch of Play@NMS comes Stacey Goes To The National Museum, a new title by author Lianne Ong. (We also previously reviewed her first book, Maxilla!)

Stacey is a little girl who goes to visit the National Museum with her mummy and ends up going on an unexpected adventure, with the help of a surprising little tour guide. As Stacey journeys through the museum, she encounters some of the Treasures of the National Museum and ends up at Play@NMS. I think it is a good initial introduction to the museum for the little ones, and a good read to pick up just before a museum visit. I particularly love the illustrations by James Tan as he manages to incorporate a wonderful amount of detail into his drawings and yet keep the style of the artwork simple and appealing to children.

This is the first book in an upcoming series -- Stacey and the Museums which will allow children to journey with Stacey through different museums under the purview of the National Heritage Board in Singapore. This sounds like a good idea and we are looking forward to seeing the rest of the series.

If you'd like to meet the author Lianne Ong and find out more about Stacey,  good news! Lianne will be making an appearance at the National Museum of Singapore's open house on National Day (9 Aug). There will be an exciting storytelling session and interactive activities such as a scavenger trail for the little ones in the Singapore History Gallery. Sounds like a fun way to spend an afternoon to me!

Stacey Goes To The National Museum is stocked at the gift shop of the National Museum, and is also available online from Armour Publishing at the special web price of $13.64 (15% off the RRP of $16.05).

GIVEAWAY! 

If you'd like a copy of Stacey Goes To The National Museum, here's your chance to grab one because I have ONE COPY to giveaway! To join this giveaway, simply follow the steps of the Rafflecopter widget below. The more steps you complete, the higher our chances of winning.

This giveaway ends on Friday 15 August, 11.59pm, and is open to Singapore residents only. Winners will be picked randomly and contacted by e-mail. Winners have 3 days to respond with their particulars, failing which a new winner will be selected.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

P.S. Hop over to Owls Well to join their giveaway to get another chance at winning a copy of Stacey Goes To The National Museum! Don't miss their cute book trailer too.