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Food, glorious food! Invites & Tryouts Motherkao loves... Reviews

Turbo action on cake (introducing PrimaDeli’s new range of cartoon cakes)

August 7, 2013

We haven’t caught the latest DreamWorks animation, Turbo, on big screen yet, but we got a piece of the action today with PrimaDéli’s new Turbo cake range.

PrimaDéli sent over their Turbo Racing League cake which features SuperTurbo and Friends on the edible icing and the fluffliest chocolate sponge covered with layers of light fresh cream. A really nice gesture to perk up our long weekend!

An orange-themed Turbo cake was what we had for dessert today!

As with all cake, there must be a reason for eating it. At least that’s what the kids think. So we stuck four big candles and eight little ones all round the 1 kg cake, sang a birthday song to Singapore, and sat down together as a family to enjoy the deliciousness of fresh cream and choco sponge.

Singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Singapore with gusto

Excitement in the air: eating cake, National Day, long weekend!

The deliciousness of fresh chocolate cream by the layers

Licking their cake forks and loving the light cream and fluffy sponge

The kids were licking their plates and asking for more cream after they were done chomping down their slice of cake. After they had their fill of cream, they quickly asked, “Can we please go watch the snails?”

Looks like we need to go meet the Turbo Racing League soon. Until that movie date, we’ll be slowly savouring the sweet treat specially prepared for us by PrimaDéli. What a happy start to the long weekend!

*GIVEAWAY: I have THREE Turbo Cakes to give away!*

Watching the latest DreamWorks movie doesn’t just stop at the cinemas, now you can customise your cake featuring DreamWorks’s newest action star – Turbo and friends! And PrimaDéli is giving away THREE 300g Turbo Cakes to THREE of Motherkao’s readers!

Here’s how you can take part:

1) Like PrimaDéli’s Facebook page.

2) Share this entry by clicking the (very tiny) Facebook icon at the bottom of the page. Alternatively, you can go to to this link, look for {Giveaway} and share away.

3) Leave me a comment telling me what you love about PrimaDéli after you have liked and shared.

Terms & Conditions:

The above steps must be completed to qualify.
Contest will close on 11 August 2013, 2359hrs and results will be announced on 12 August.
Giveaway is open to everyone with a valid Singapore Address for delivery. 1 winner per household address.
Winners must respond by 16 August 2013 on delivery details, else giveaway will be forfeited.
Winner will be selected randomly and Motherkao’s decision is final.
Giveaway will be a 300g TURBO cake (choice of chocolate or vanilla only).
All giveaways must be redeemed by 31 August 2013.

Disclosure: We received a 1kg Turbo cake with compliments from PrimaDéli. All opinions here are my own.

Update: Turbo’s coming your way, Adora @ Gingerbreadmum, Jolin & Arsheitha! I see you smacking some lips already!

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Invites & Tryouts Learning fun! Motherkao loves... Nat Kao Reviews

And it’s a wrap at Gymnademics! [+a giveaway]

July 31, 2013

We’ve just completed a term of Gymnademics at their Pre-Fellow class, and it’s been A LOT of fun, fun, fun. Nat and I have learned and played SO MUCH together at every lesson, and for this, we really have Teacher Selene and her assistants to thank.

Every lesson for Nat at his Pre-Fellow class is parent-accompanied, which means both of us get a mental and physical workout! The class is an hour long, and we usually arrive 10 to 15 minutes earlier to get Nat used to the environment. By mid-term, Nat got pretty used to the gym studio and the routine, and even knew where to leave his water bottle!

The Pre-Fellow class (suitable for toddlers 1 to 2 years old) is structured and packed with mental and physical stimulation for the little ones from the get-go. The children engage in as many as 14 activities the whole hour, starting with the Welcome Song, followed by a recap of the previous week’s theme-based lesson. Then it’s the theme of the week, some warm-ups (in the form of song and actions) and then it’s movement time at the gym circuit and swinging on the trapeze.

Our last lesson at Gymnademics coincided with Racial Harmony Day and Nat got to wear ethnic Indon garb! Here he is learning about traditional costumes!

Our last lesson at Gymnademics coincided with Racial Harmony Day and Nat got to wear his hand-me-down ethnic Indonesian garb. Here’s a picture of him learning about traditional costumes!

Nat loves the gym circuit and he covers at least three rounds of it every lesson

Nat loves the gym circuit and covers at least three rounds of it every lesson

Unfortunately, Nat refuses to swing on the trapeze still. But he loves to hang on the monkey bar and so we let him do that instead during the trapeze segment while the rest are swinging.

Nat swinging on the monkey bar: He’s not ok with the trapeze but feels perfectly fine swinging from this!

Gymnademics is the only enrichment gym in Singapore affiliated with the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (IAHP) and its curriculum is based on methods developed by the late Glenn Doman which focuses on a child’s brain development and developing a child holistically. Which means in every lesson, the little tots, young as they are, get to read flashcards and learn new vocabulary related to the theme of the week. The toddlers also do a fair bit of singing and dancing, and holding percussion instruments – something which Nat enjoys tremendously.

Music, song, action: Enjoying sing-alongs and shaking the macara

Music, song, action: Enjoying sing-alongs, shaking the macara and throwing the beanbag

Other activities also include the fruit relay (which trains the child to run in a straight line), gymnastics (which trains hand-eye coordination and develops their gross motor skills), parachute time (story time based on the theme of the week), Mystery Box (one of my personal favourites because Nat and I get to do some hands-on together) and music appreciation (learning the solfeggio, a technique in music used to teach pitch).

Counting the number of fruits together after the fruit relay

A very focused Nat doing some colouring during th Mystery Box segment

A very focused Nat doing some colouring during the Mystery Box segment

What I particularly like about the classes at Gymnademics is that the entire hour is packed with activities for the little ones and they are never once bored or restless – and that to me is quality time spent learning and exploring! The teachers are an enthusiastic bunch who are so dedicated they would even set up the gym circuit or trapeze for you should you wish to revisit a particular segment with your child. There is a lot of positivity and encouragement going around at every lesson, and this really help to boost the little ones’ confidence.

Gymnademics has been truly fun, engaging and purposeful, and I am mighty glad that Nat got the opportunity to experience that. Thank you, Gymnademics, for the invitation!

*Time for a giveaway!*

Gymnademics is offering three trial passes to three Motherkao readers who wish to experience fun and purposeful play at Gymnademics! To take part in this giveaway, simply leave a comment here to say who you’d like to win this pass for, with your email address. Find out more about their classes for 5 months old to 5 years old here. Giveaway ends 8 August.

P/S: It would be really nice if you could LIKE the Gymnademics Facebook page too!

PP/S: I shared our experiences in an earlier review here and here. We were invited to Gymnademics for a term. All opinions are my own.

Update: AND WE HAVE OUR WINNERS…Congrats to Cheryl, Regina and Debbie! We’ll be in touch shortly!

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Going Out! Happy days Invites & Tryouts Motherkao loves... The Kao Kids

Hello Cinema!

July 27, 2013

The last time I stepped into a movie theatre was in 2008. Fatherkao and I (and Ben whom I was preggers with) watched Bolt on the big screen. We had deliberately selected a movie that would be sanitised for our unborn child. No violent scenes – check. No sex – check. No vulgarities – check. I’ve not watched anything else on big screen ever since that movie about a spy dog.

And I have been so deprived ever since motherhood consumed me. Even more so now, with 24/7 care-giving, once a day homelearning and 8 hours of co-sleeping.

So when Golden Village invited me and the kids to watch The Croods on big screen last week, guess who jumped for joy. The kids were like, “No…. we don’t want… we’re scared of the dark and the loud noise!” cos’ that’s what I told them theatres would be like, but I was like, “Come on, guys! Don’t be such a wuss! We have to go!”

They have never step foot in a cinema ever and this was going to be their first.

And watched The Croods we did, at Golden Village City Square.

Picture credit: disneydreaming.com

Clutching on tight to the soft toys they brought!

I was surprised that for a ‘Mums & Babies Movie Screening’, which GV does on a regular basis (ticket at $6 and kids below 90cm go free!), they didn’t turn up some lights and turn down the volume. It would have been perfect if they did, because I needn’t have to sit Becks on my lap the whole time and have her almost bruise my arm every time there was scary music, loud sudden sounds and “bad stuff” happening on screen. The little girl was squeezing my arm so tight I had to cover her eyes and ears to stop her from injuring me. There were also a couple of kids and babies crying at different parts of the movie, and I guessed if the lights were turned up and volume turned down a little, it would probably help soothe some of them.

Ben, on the other hand, was cackling away and enjoying the show and his huge bag of popcorn. It was a really good movie, one of learning to embrace change and sticking together as a family. Very heartwarming. And funny!

As for Nat, the littlest caught the first ten minutes of the show, took a walk outside when he got cranky, fell asleep on the helper’s shoulder and slept through the entire movie with her covering his ears. I guess the only good thing about the complete darkness was that it was perfect for him to take his nap.

I am thankful to be seated in a movie theatre once again, after so many years. I’m also so glad to be able to lug all three kids to a movie, and watch it with so many other parents and their kids. We’re all parents there, so it was perfectly ok when a kid yelled / cried / screamed / talked / asked questions. No glaring. No shushing. No tsk-ing. We were all in the same boat — all deprived of a movie experience ever since parenthood but made possible by the Mums & Babies Screening at GV.

Yay, we did it! We watched a movie!

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. We were invited to the Mums & Babies Movie Screening at Golden Village. All opinions are my own.

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Fatherkao loves... Food, glorious food! Happy days Invites & Tryouts Motherkao loves... Product Reviews The Kao Kids

Smooth Operator (with help from the all new Philips Jamie Oliver Blender)

July 25, 2013

No, I’m not referring to Sade’s lover boy with diamond life.

I’m referring to this man who’s been in the kitchen lately, making after-dinner drinks for the kids and winning their hearts:

Smooth(ie) Operator

Thanks to the all new Philips Jamie Oliver Blender, Fatherkao is now the official Smooth(ie) Operator in our house. With mangoes in season, a 600-W blender with a two-speed pulse setting, a high quality 1.5-litre jar and titanium-coated 5-star serrated blades, he’s been wowing the kids with his smoothie creations effortlessly using this new kitchen tool.

The all new Philips Jamie Oliver Blender

He throws in ripe mangoes with lemon sorbet, some fresh lime and mint leaves, and pulse everything with crushed ice. Some days he adds a dash of milk and some days a splash of orange juice.

The ingredients for a refreshing mango smoothie

And the kids go on an all-time high waiting for their desserts after dinner…

Act 1, Scene 1: Gimme, gimme!

Act 2, Scene 1: Can’t wait! Gimme!

Act 2, Scene 2: Smoothie ready!

And going totally ecstatic to the point of declaring this:

Ben: Mama makes smoothie a little bit nice. But Dada makes the NICEST! Next time, when Mama wants to make smoothie, we’ll call you, ok, Dada?

Yummy yum yum, they say!

Now, that’s how the Smooth Operator stole my thunder and became the latest hero in the kitchen, with an uncomplicated blender who does all the work for him!

Keep life simple with the PHILIPS | Jamie Oliver range which includes a food processor (S$268), handblender (S$128) and blender (S$108). Available at leading electronics and departmental stores.

Disclosure: I received the Philips Jamie Oliver Blender for the purpose of writing this. This post is the second in a series of sponsored conversations on behalf of Philips Singapore. All opinions are my own. And yes, I am jealous that what I make for the kids is only “a little bit nice” but that’s just because I lent Fatherkao my Philips JO blender.

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Invites & Tryouts Motherkao loves... Reviews The real supermom

Shake legs grocery shopping with RedMart

July 16, 2013

I’ve written some time ago how supermarketing is now a whole new experience with three kids in tow. It’s a big excursion that requires planning and coordination of naptimes and mealtimes, as well as a good deal of strategizing on how to get my shopping-list items in the most efficient way, while keeping the kids out of mischief. And oh yes, the three of them now fill up one trolley, so I push one more extra now so the groceries can go somewhere. Which means I can never head to the supermarket without an extra pair of adult hands to help me push the kids around and make sure they don’t pinch, stab and squash whatever they see along the way.

There are some days when I really don’t feel like I want to be pushing three kids in a trolley, don’t wish to be lifting a single grocery bag, don’t want to be stepping foot into a supermarket (which is almost always crowded these days!) and wasting precious time queuing. Did I also mention that finding parking at these malls with supermarkets is such a pain?

What can I do on these “some days”, especially if the larder, refrigerator and toiletries cabinet are calling out to be replenished?

Online shopping! I hear you say.

Somebody recently told me that I should start buying groceries online if bringing the kids out is such a hassle. There are local e-grocers that offer competitive prices and free delivery within the same day to cater to the modern need for efficiency and convenience. Some time ago, I experienced one of those “some days” and decided to stock up my household items at RedMart. We were running out of rice, bathroom cleaners and snacks for the kids; plus, the doc’s just given me orders to lower my LDL, so I desperately needed to buy some oatmeal cereal and go make myself a few thousand bowls of that to eat over breakfast, lunch and dinner for the rest of my life. And with the recent haze crisis, I wasn’t too sure of the PM2.5 concentrations in our air to be heading out with the kids. I dread looking for parking and paying for parking, and Nat fussing to be carried after a few minutes of being in the trolley.

So I went online and got everything I needed in the comfort of my couch, using only five fingers and a mouse.

And it was so easy, so quick, so convenient! Here’s what I did:

Signed up with an email address and a password

Got a smiley and an email for registering successfully

Browsed by categories, which were readily available on the header and footer and the left sidebar

A while later…

What happens after check-out: payment, choose a delivery timing and wait for items to be delivered!

What happens after check-out: payment, choose delivery timing and wait for items to be delivered!

My orders came promptly the next day at the delivery timing I selected, and the larder was restocked. Happiness!

Orders came promptly, and we’re restocked again!

No need to push trolleys around. No need to strategise shopping route. No fuss and meltdowns. No need to have to lug the kids who somehow always had the magical ability to conjure up a full bladder despite emptying it before we leave home and whenever we’re halfway supermarketing. No need to have to hear them scream Yakult! Oreos! Apples! – and wish there was a hole to hide – whenever we go down the aisles.

Can shake legs some more.

I’ve concluded: I need to do this more often – especially if all the heavy stuff like rice, diapers, milk powder and canned food all run out at the same time – and on those “some days” when I am too bone-tired to have to run about a supermarket!

More details:

The store comes to you at RedMart, with its large product selection of home essentials, same day delivery within 2-hour delivery windows (so you need only be home for 2 hours), free delivery on orders above $75, competitive prices and automatic reminders to restock. RedMart knows you have better things to do!

*Wanna shake legs shopping for grocery too? RedMart is offering readers of this blog a 10% discount on your first purchase! Simply check out with the code rm_mkao!*

Disclosure: The good folks at RedMart sponsored this post and gave me the opportunity to shake legs, drink a glass of Milo, and grocery-shop away online in the wee hours of the night. They were also kind enough to pick up the tab. All opinions and doctoring of the screen captures (yep, those with added emphasis and shout-outs; and also so you won’t know where I live!) are my own.

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Going Out! Motherkao loves... The Kao Kids

Cloudy with a chance of smog balls

June 21, 2013

I’m glad we did our staycation at Marina Bay Sands on Father’s Day before everything in our polluted air hit the hazardous level.

Last Sunday which was Father’s Day, the skies were somewhat clear, and the view of the Marina skyline was still unmarred by the haze from our super huge deluxe room and the infinity pool. Which had an awesomely breathtaking view.

We finally jumped into the infinity pool, and on the 57th floor, we waddled, laughed and played. We swam and we swam – after lunch when we checked in, after dinner in the cool of the night, and after breakfast before checking out. When we left the pool that Monday morning, the smog was beginning to shroud the skies and the burning smell was starting to intensify. Any later than Monday and we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy our staycation at all!

I’m really thankful that we had a good time last week. Now can we please have our blue skies back. It’s just not right to be spending our June holidays this way.

P/S: Our MBS staycation was complimentary when we bought an expresso machine from Philips Saeco. We were not compensated in any way, and this is not a review.

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Food, glorious food! Invites & Tryouts Motherkao loves... Product Reviews The Kao Kids

Rockin’ the kitchen with the all new Philips Jamie Oliver Food Processor

June 20, 2013

I’m a big fan girl of the Naked Chef, and I’ve been one happy girl these days spending time in the kitchen with him.

Mr Jamie O in da’house!

Well, ok, not exactly him, but close enough.

The all new Philips Jamie Oliver Food Processor

Ever since the Philips Jamie Oliver Food Processor came into my life, it’s found a permanent spot in the kitchen and in my heart. I can’t even start describing how awed I am by this cool kitchen tool. It is truly, in the words of Mark Bittman, a “virtuoso one man band”.

Since it came, it has allowed me to finally chop onions without tearing, dice shallots and garlic like a pro, shred potatoes finely to make rosti, mince pork, shrimps and water chestnuts to make ngoh hiang, juice oranges without my arm muscles getting knotted up, serve homemade sorbet and cake pops for dessert (much to my kids’ delight) and transform egg whites into meringues in seconds.

(clockwise) Diced onions and water chestnut for pork rolls, frozen banana ice cream, balloon beaten eggwhites for meringue, thinly stripped potatoes for rosti, and minced beef and shallots for meatballs

Specially designed by the man himself and developed by Philips, the new range of Jamie Oliver electric kitchen tools ranging from the food processor to the hand blender is meant to be easy to use so food preparation becomes effortless, and to be shown off – yes, you heard that right, shown off! – with its pretty splash of cornflower blue.

When I first got the huge box, I must admit I was a little overwhelmed unpacking the various individual accessories that came with the 3.4L food processor. I’m someone who is easily plagued by the disease called gadget-phobia, but I’m here to tell you this dude is really easy to figure out, easy to clean, and delivers in every aspect. So take my word for it if I say it’s really, really idiot-proof. If I can do it, anyone can too.

Looks daunting but it’s really easy to assemble and figure out!

And the best thing is, the kids are now welcome in the kitchen.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve chased Ben and Becks out when I’m trying to whip up a meal, but these days, I’m roping them to help pulse and throw ingredients in because this food processor is safe even for my little ones to use. Talk about being designed for busy parents!

Ben and Becks helping me shred potatoes and make strawberry & blueberry sorbet

Just how safe is it? For one, the Philips Jamie Oliver food processor has a sturdy base with four very powerful yet easy-to-release suction feet to help keep the tool fixed on the table top.

Very strong suction from these feet, I say!

In addition to that, it also has a safety function that locks the lid in place before it can be turned on to pulse. I found that out when I couldn’t turn it on a couple of times, and realised that it was because I hadn’t secured the cover properly. Same thing happened when I first used the citrus juicer. For a while, I thought my machine went wonky!

Safety lock feature: I’m pretty sure they were designed with busy parents (who would rope in their kids for food prep) in mind!

I also like the fact that it only has two pulse speeds (just 1, and 2!) and that just simplifies everything and keeps the kids out of mischief. Imagine one that has speeds from 1 to 10. I can so imagine my kids trying out every single speed on the dial just to see what it’s like to pulse their Oreos or juice their oranges. I wouldn’t be sending them too near such a machine, that’s for sure!

Juicing their own orange, and having fun!

Juicing oranges, and having fun!

With this new tool in the house, and extra pairs of hands to help, it’s been a breeze churning out tasty treats. Ben and Becks are always asking, “What are we going to have today with the white monster-machine?“, and I find myself looking forward to rummaging the fridge and larder to throw random things in to make snacks and treats of every kind. This is a monster-machine, alright. With it, we could really make almost anything we want – from scratch with little fuss! And we’re having so much fun while at it.

The Philips Jamie Oliver Food Processor impresses with its effectiveness, simplicity and affordability. If this is as close to Jamie O as I can get, this fan girl’s definitely not complaining!

Keep life simple with the PHILIPS | Jamie Oliver range which includes a food processor (S$268), handblender (S$128) and blender (S$108). Available at leading electronics and departmental stores.

Disclosure: I received this dude for the purpose of writing this review. This post is the first in a series of sponsored conversations on behalf of Philips Singapore. All opinions are my own.

P/S: I say it’s safe but I never let my children go unsupervised in the kitchen. Just so you know. Please do the same!

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Invites & Tryouts Motherkao loves...

Pampering sensitive skin with Comfort Ultra Pure

June 18, 2013

My skin erupts into itchy bumps whenever I sit on old upholstery or wear clothes with hardened fibres. Random parts of my body break out into red, hive-like patches and I start clawing myself silly till I am all bones.

Because of my sensitive skin, I am very particular about what I use to wash my clothes, blankets and bed sheets. I hate washing detergent that leaves me with a scratchy, harsh feeling, and softeners that have overpowering scents. In this heat where we live, the last thing you want to be feeling is itchy, uncomfortable, and smelling like a public toilet that’s just been washed with strong chemicals.

Plus, full-time motherhood is already tough as it is. There’s no way I’m going to be spending every day deprived of the luxury of sweet-smelling, soft clothes to wear, and enjoying the cool feeling of my clothes caressing my skin. Which is why I insist that all my clothes must be laundered with a gentle detergent and fabric softener.

Yes, it really doesn’t take much, or cost much, to pamper a labouring mother like me.

When I was introduced to the new Comfort Ultra Pure Fabric Conditioner, I was sold. I dare say, after trying a couple of softeners in the market, this is the best brand I’ve used by far, simply for three reasons.

1. It smells fresh and light.

My main complaint with softeners is that the smell can sometimes be so overpowering that when the clothes are laundered and hung on bamboo poles, the scent just permeates through the entire house, which can be pretty nauseating after a while. Comfort Ultra Pure has a fragrance so light and so fresh, it makes you want to inhale the mild scent that’s filling the house whenever there’s fresh laundry and take in the smell of lingering freshness on your clothes, again and again.

2. It cares for sensitive and delicate skin.

Comfort Ultra Pure is the first fabric conditioner in the market specially formulated for people with sensitive skin like mine. It can also be used for delicate skin, and the first ever to be dermatologically tested safe even for the delicate skin of a baby’s! That’s just great news because now my kids’ and baby’s clothes can all be laundered together with mine, with this softener. And we can now say goodbye to hardened fibres for good.

3. It makes me feel I am wrapped in pure love.

Adding Comfort Ultra Pure to our washing load makes me feel like I’m all wrapped in a gentle softness. No more scratchy scratchy. What lingers throughout the day is the cool caress of my clothes against my skin, and the feeling of comfort through and through. As a stay-home mom working so hard, I so deserve to be wrapped in pure love this way.

Comfort Ultra Pure’s mild formulation delivers amazing softness and total comfort all day long. It protects my sensitive skin, and my three babies’ delicate skin too, and it’s all simply accomplished through a few drops of heavenly goodness!

How about getting some pampering done for yourself and the kids today?

Comfort Ultra Pure is available in 2 sizes (800ml & 1.8L) at all major supermarkets.

Disclosure: The kids and I were sponsored to smell fresh and feel cool with Comfort Ultra Pure. All opinions are Motherkao’s own.

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Food, glorious food! Motherkao loves... Motherkao's recipes

Cake pops, the fuss-free way

June 17, 2013

So, cake pops are all the rage right now and they seem to be a hit at every kid’s birthday party. I discovered a way to make them without baking. My kids and I love them; the moment they are chilled in our fridge, they become addictive balls of yumminess we just can’t get enough of. You’ve been warned: too easy, and too addictive!

This is the cheater’s guide.

Oreo Cake Pops (Depends on how big or small you wish to roll them, really. I made about 20.)

Ingredients:

30 Oreos
1 packet of Philadelphia cream cheese (250g)
For the frosting: anything goes! (Some suggestions: white chocolate (melted), dark chocolate (melted), rainbow sprinkles, chocolate rice sprinkles, sugar balls)

Instructions:

1) Pulse the Oreos in a food processor till they are crumbs. (I got my Philips Jamie Oliver Food Processor to do the job.)

2) Add cream cheese and mix well with Oreo crumbs.

3) Roll mixture into balls. Stick a pretty stirrer or lollipop stick in each ball.

4) Dip in melted choc and roll them in chocolate rice, rainbow sprinkles or sugar glitter.

5) Put the balls in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

6) Pop them in mouth and enjoy! Yes, it’s that simple!

That’s it? Yes, that’s it!

Also linking up with:

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Motherkao loves...

My definition of a good time in bed (no, not a post on sexy time)

June 15, 2013

Recently, my husband did the sweetest thing ever. I was touched beyond words, and happy, happy, happy.

He took the kids out to the supermarket – all three of them – on his own, by himself.

This meant the helper finally had an hour to clean the house and I finally had one hour to myself. Without the kids.

While he drove with a crying baby in the car and walked aimlessly down the aisles of the supermarket with three kids in tow – cos’ you can’t really buy anything when three kids fill your trolley, yes? – I spent a total of 30 seconds worrying about how things were going, another 53 seconds trying to rid that “Mama..Mama…Mama…” ringing in my ears, a few minutes getting used to the sudden silence in the house, and the remaining time sprawling on the bed, doing absolutely n.o.t.h.i.n.g.

Oooh, what bliss. Reminds of good ol’, pre-kids days like these:

Except that I didn’t check my phone or take a bubble bath. I just lay in bed, spaced and drifted in and out of sleep. I had needed that me-time desperately because this on-call 24/7 mothering duty has been consuming my entire being like wildfire and making me hot and fiery in all the wrong ways.

I spent that precious me-time hearing nothing, doing nothing, thinking nothing. Lying still and being in this state of nothingness, paradoxically, filled me. I actually felt like a battery that’s fully charged again, and all ready again to face the challenges of everyday mothering, without going snappety snap.

Not difficult to make a tired mother happy, I say. Just check me in a hotel (hurhurhur), but if that’s not possible, give me a bed and just 60 minutes.

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