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GIVEAWAY: One Y Velo Balance Bike (worth $139)

Y Velo Balance Bike - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Hunter is a supremely cautious kid. He’s worried about…. pretty much everything. However, I’ve noticed that when it comes to moving toy vehicles, he becomes quite the speed demon!

He became a pro with his scooter at a very young age, and adored his Ybike – zooming all over the place. It came to a point when I felt the Ybike was too ‘basic’ for him, and he needed a proper bike.

So there’s 2 ways for a child to learn how to ride:

  1. Balance Bike – these are bikes without pedals. The idea is for kids to feel and learn balancing, to be able to kick off and let the bike cruise along, keeping their balance.
  2. Training Wheels – these are bikes with the extra wheels on either side. As the kid gets used to pedaling, you raise (and eventually) remove the training wheels.

Personally, I’ve always preferred Balance Bikes. I don’t like the look of training wheels, and those bikes are really clunky and heavy. I like the idea of learning the courage to balance first (because that’s often the most fearful and difficult part), then putting on the pedals once kids are confident.

Also, I knew Hunter was good with his balance, since he was good with both his scooter and Ybike.

Here’s what I like about the Y Velo Balance Bike:

  1. The seat and handlebars are adjustable – the bike grows with your child.
  2. It’s extremely lightweight – at under 4KG, Hunter can lift it up by himself.
  3. It’s sturdy – made with aluminium, it’s really solid and doesn’t tip over when Hunter rides it, and takes up to 25KG in weight.
  4. It’s the most appealing of all the balance bikes out there – Hunter whole face lit up when he saw it! And I like how it looks like a real bike.

The Y Velo Balance Bike comes in two sizes and colours:

 

Y Velo Balance Bike - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

There are only 50 Y Velo Balance Bikes available for sale in Singapore!

These limited bikes are only available (they launched this week!) at multi-label kids boutique nottoobig, as well as selected Mothercare shops. But guess what…….

nottoobig are giving away one Y Velo Balance Bike (worth $139)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaway will run from 13 Dec to 19 Dec 2013 inclusive.
Winner’s entry(s) will be verified according to the entry criteria(s).
Winner may pick up the Y Velo (green $139, or blue $119) from the nottoobig boutique at Forum The Shopping Mall.

 

700848_yvolution_yvelo_12_balance_bike_green_3_ 20131112_181627-1_resized

Hunter was delighted with his Y Velo the moment he saw it, and to this day, is still extremely attached to it. It mustn’t look too daunting to a toddler, because he’s under the recommended age of 3 yrs old, but eagerly climbed on and whizzed around.

This photo was taken mere minutes after it was presented to him, showing how he can easily lift and walk around with the bike:

Y Velo Balance Bike - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

And then when he first got on the bike, taking it for a spin:

These three videos will give you an idea of his progression on the Y Velo..

The first video is his very first time getting on the bikie – you’ll see how slow and careful he is:

This second video shows him riding his Y Velo after a few days of practise – you’ll see how much more confident he is:

And this third video shows him after yet a few more days of practise – you’ll see how he zooms around with BOTH feet off the ground. He’s balancing!!

Y Velo Balance Bike - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Y Velo Balance Bike - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Y Velo Balance Bike - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Carter is too short to use the bike, but it doesn’t stop him from sitting on it and being pushed along by Daddy:

Y Velo Balance Bike - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

And here’s my friend’s 4+ year old riding it. The bike is set to the lowest setting though, it should be raised higher since he’s much taller than Hunter.

Y Velo Balance Bike - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

I was surprised by how Hunter, being a cautious kid that shies away from ‘scary’ stuff, was dead excited and hopped onto the Y Velo immediately. It also amazed me that he learned it so quickly and can balance easily on it. If you have an active and/or daring kid, I bet they’ll pick it up even quicker than Hunter did!

The bike’s also quite a hit with other kids and adults.. kids always want a go on it when Hunter brings it out, and parents always admire how it looks and ask me where to get one. It’s definitely eye-catching!

Thanks nottoobig!

 

BWMB RECOMMENDS: GRUB’s limited-edition Christmas menu!

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

What’s that you say?

A fun Cake Pop making session for the kids?

An epic multi-course Christmas set meal, from GRUB’s limited edition Christmas 2013 menu?

A fabulous ‘ol time with the kids running in the park and chilling with coffees and icy cold beers?

Yes. Yes. And yes!

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Us mummies and our kids donned our aprons, cracked open a couple of cold beers (only one beer each okay, we don’t promote drinking on the (mummy) job here at Brunch With My Baby!), and rolled up our sleeves for a fun afternoon with the kids at GRUB.

What a blast we had!

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The Cake Pop making session captured the kids’ full attention. And ours too. It was actually a very simple process, but I wouldn’t do it at home because it’s just too much prep work and fiddly. Much better to do it in an organized environment like at GRUB!

First we rolled the cake into balls, then chilled them in the fridge.

Then, we stuck a straw into each one and dipped them into liquid white chocolate.

Finally, we decorated them with pretty sprinkles!

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

SO PRETTY, RIGHT????

It wasn’t much effort, and you don’t need to be a creative genius. Everything just looks pretty with sprinkles, you see. Hunter had loads of fun meticulously dotting his cake pop with silver sprinkle balls. I was delighted, because it kept him occupied for a good 20 mins.

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

After that, the GRUB crew cleaned up the area (thank goodness for them, and kudos to their patience considering the tables and floor was covered in liquid chocolate and sprinkles!!)…. whilst all of us took the kids out to play in the park right outside. It was perfect, because the kids got a chance to stretch their legs and run up and down and get some fresh air.

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

After the place was cleaned up, we were ushered back in again (though it was a bit of a challenge herding our active kids back!) for their………. Christmas set meal 🙂 This 3-course set meal is exclusive for December 2013 only, so get yourself down to GRUB asap!

And this is GRUB’s kitchen.. where all the magic happens!

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

I opted for the Soup of the Day, a Potato, leek and gorgonzola soup. It was my favourite item on the menu, which is a big thing for me as I’m not even a soup person! Hunter polished off the fluffy foccacia bread, and more than half of the soup. With gusto.

The soup was creamy and rich, without being too heavy on the palate. And the gorgonzola was very very subtle but lended a delectable twist to the soup. It was delicious and so comforting. I’m hoping they put this on their regular menu, because it was a total hit with all the kids!

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

I was suspicious about the Slow-roasted juicy turkey breast with gravy on sweet potato mash and pea tendrils shoots. Turkey is not my thing. To me, it’s like the drier, tougher version of chicken.

I’m not sure what GRUB did with the turkey breast here, but it was soft enough to be cut with a fork, and it was, yes, juicy! Very moist and tender enough that Hunter ate a whole piece himself. It had me astounded, since Hunter is not really a meat eater, let alone a kid that would sit and chew on meat. But he gobbled it up, along with the creamy sweet potato mash and cranberry sauce.

Colour me impressed!

And considering turkey is low-fat and high in nutrients, I’m very pleased that I can order this for my kids whilst it’s available in December.

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Everyone gave big thumbs up for their Honey baked ham on mash, apple sauce and french beans. Cast aside your ideas on a ham dish being highly processed and salty. This ham was fat and freshly cooked, and wasn’t salty like what you imagine ham to be. It was very tender too, and was well received by the kids.

I particularly LOVED the french beans it came with, and wanted more! And more of the delicious apple sauce too please! I like lashings of it on my ham 😉

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

I’m not a Bread and butter pudding lover, so was a bit meh when it came out as a surprise extra dish. I personally am never a fan of bread and butter pudding, because I don’t like the mushiness of it and the raisins in the bread completely freak me out.

Not that it mattered, because Hunter ADORED it and polished it off!! It’s not a small portion either, especially for a 2 year old!!

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

My favourite dessert was the Banoffee – banana and toffee trifle with freshly whipped vanilla cream. Shhhhh….. I actually scraped most of the cream off (a travesty, I know, since it was freshly whipped!) because I don’t like cream, but I loved loved LOVED the banoffee below!! The delightful salty-and-sweet biscuit base crumbled delightfully on my tongue and was so good I wanted twice the amount. It paired very well with the sweet banana slices also in my glass cup.

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

GRUB’s new dessert (also on their regular menu now) was also served, the Sticky date cake with burnt caramel, vanilla ice cream and toasted almonds. It’s served very cutely in a coffee cup, and is a combination of hot and cold that really hits the spot. The sticky date is soft and moist, and you really need to eat the sticky date, ice cream, and burnt caramel sauce to appreciate this dessert properly.

The last time we got this (when we were dining at GRUB for dinner), Hunter ate the entire thing. It’s good.

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Bellies aching from our meal, the kids and us were sent home with our cake pops!  Aren’t they adorable?

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The most-heard feedback at the end of the session: PLEASE do more kid-friendly events and lunches! The kids had a fab time and it’s even more fun if you get a couple of friends together for some mess-making and food-eating.

Cookyn's Christmas menu - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

GRUB’s limited edition Christmas 2013 set menu is available from now til 31 December 2013. At $30++ per set meal, it’s a real deal considering the fine-dining quality and presentation you get. It’s also extremely kid-friendly.. all our children ate all the dishes!

Remember to bring your scooters/bicycles/etc so the kids can have some fun at the park too 🙂

 

CANTON PARADISE @ STAR VISTA: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Buona Vista, Singapore

Canton Paradise - Brunch With My Baby SingaporeI’ve been on a bit of a yum cha frenzy as of late. I hadn’t eaten it in years, then suddenly went mad with cravings over it. I’m not pregnant, so I have no idea why this is happening!

And so I’ve been dragging family and friends all over Singapore in my efforts to eat all the dim sum in the country.

We did a quickie at Canton Paradise, located at the Star Vista mall. It was relatively quiet when we rocked up at 11-ish in the morning, but quickly became packed to the brim by the time we were leaving towards 1PM. Guess I’m not the only one that’s a bit of a yum cha fiend!!

 

Canton Paradise - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Service at this branch was impeccable. Extremely friendly and helpful, and food arrived swiftly. Exactly what you need when you have young children in tow!

Our iced coffee ($3.20) and iced tea/coffee mix ($3.60) was delicious. Well worth it.

Canton Paradise - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The Roast Pork Belly with Crackling ($12.80) was outstanding. It works out to just over a buck per morsel, but it’s so good I’d order it again. The skin was as crisp as potato chips, and the pork wonderously tender. There was a thin layer of melty fat to bring all the textures together, but not too much to gross you out.

Canton Paradise - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

My Egg Noodles in Superior Soy Sauce ($8.00) was very tasty but also very oily. It came in a portion to be shared, I suspect. Canton Paradise - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The Prawn Dumpling Noodles ($7.80) was a hit with the kids, who slurped it all up. I liked the mild taste of the dish, which accentuated the freshness of the prawns. Canton Paradise - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

And…. the best for the last…… the Custard Egg Yolk Buns ($5.20)!! I was fantasizing about this all through my meal, and insisted we ordered it.

The bun was fluffy and light, and the interior molten and yellow. There is a very strong taste of egg yolk, which can feel a bit heavy if you’re not into the high-calorie stuff. You also need to eat them (carefully) whilst they’re hot, because they go rather powdery and weird when they cool down.

Canton Paradise - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

 
 
Last Bite: Canton Paradise offers impeccable service and an array of lovely dim sum dishes. The Roast Pork Belly with Crackling is a must!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: Yes (in the mall)
Kids’ menu: No

Canton Paradise
The Star Vista #B1-45/46
1 Vista Exchange Green
Singapore 138617
Phone: 66942915
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Fri: 11:00 – 22:00, Sat – Sun: 10:30 – 22:00, PH: 10:30 – 22:00
 
 

City Square Mall presents… Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends

Thomas

The following article was first published on Material World – a fabulous online magazine 🙂

—-

Is your kid into Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends?

City Square Mall is the place to be next week! Hunter has been a MASSIVE fan since he was a baby, so he was totally stoked to go check out the Thomas show there – never seen before worldwide!! Trust me your kid will be in total awe during the show.

Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall

 

The performance’s premise and theme surrounds around City Square Mall’s values – which is to care for the community and save the environment. And so we kick off with Chad, asking us to help him sort through what is recyclable and what is not. I was impressed with the kids around us – they were all spot on with their answers!

There was a surprise naughty cat that made all the kids squeal with glee, but I won’t give too much away 😉 There were also some (easy) Q&A for the kids, to win a bunch of Thomas bags.

Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall

 

But the kids saved their biggest cheers for…. THOMAS! He arrived in a puff of smoke and was a HUGE train. He’s trundled out to the middle of the stage, and his eyes move and he speaks and puffs away. You’ll see the Fat Controller there, but it was Rusty and Dusty the characters that really stole the show with the kids – thanks to their crazy antics.
Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall

 

There’s a little special surprise for the kids at the end… a flurry of snow! Truthfully, the first thing I thought was “Oh nooooo! This is gonna get messy.” But, oddly, the ‘snow’ dried off and vanished, leaving zero residue or water spots on my clothes and bag, and left our hair looking normal afterwards (despite us being covered in the stuff). I don’t know what it’s made of, but it’s pretty impressive technology!

My kids were so surprised with the snow that they just had this shell-shocked looks on their faces the whole time 😉

Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall

 

The Meet & Greet Session (just spend a minimum of $50 at the mall) is straight after the show and, boy, people are fast to jump into that queue! The characters are hilarious and come up with an infinite number of silly poses for every group of kids that come on stage.

I was pretty shocked my kids were OK with going up (the Thomas train does seem a lot bigger the closer you get to it!) and taking a photo, but they were actually really happy to do so and posed accordingly… in their Thomas tees!

Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall

 

And, if you spend $200 at City Square Mall, you get a free Thomas & Friends cushion and a Christmas Carnival coupon (worth $4) for a ride or game. UOB debit/credit cardmembers need only spend $180 to quality. Limited to one redemption per shopper per day.

Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall

 

So what did we make a beeline for afterwards?

Yep. The Christmas Carnival in the Park! It has super cute rides for young kids and both of mine loved them. It’s all so cheerful and colourful! Carter even managed to sit still for a whole 3-mins during the train ride – I was astounded.

Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall

 

We got an opportunity to Meet the Cast afterwards as well. Considering their thick English accents on-stage, I was surprised to hear…. Australian accents when chatting with them! They hail from Sydney as well 🙂

Here are some little tidbits I learned from them:

  • They get equal numbers of boys and girls to the Thomas show.
  • Dusty and Rusty, the dock station hands, are unique characters created for this Thomas show.
  • They listened to cockney accents on YouTube to perfect theirs.
  • Kids in SG are more in wonderment during showtime, compared to other countries’ kids.

 

The kids and I had a ball during the Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends show! It’s highly-engaging, very lively, and (bonus points here) has the Thomas theme song performed both the traditional way as well as a beatbox way – hilarious! Pop on down to City Square Mall with your kids to check out the show…. and remember to go early to secure your seats 🙂

 

Thomas and Friends at City Square Mall

EVENT: Christmas with Thomas & Friends Live Show
DATES: From now to 15 Dec (daily except Mondays): Tue-Fri at 2PM & 7PM, Sat-Sun at 1PM, 4PM, 7PM
VENUE: Level 1 Atrium
DETAILS: Free seating. Go early!

EVENT: Meet & Greet with Thomas & Friends
DATES: From now to 15 Dec (daily except Mondays): Tue-Fri at 2PM & 7PM, Sat-Sun at 1PM, 4PM, 7PM
VENUE: Level 1 Atrium
DETAILS: Happens after the Live Show. Redeem an exclusive pass for this meet & greet session with a minimum spending
of $50 (50 passes will be given out 45 mins prior to each show)

EVENT: Christmas Carnival in the Park
DATES: From now to 15 Dec (daily): 1-9PM
VENUE: Level 1 City Green (outdoors)
DETAILS: Kid-friendly and super cute carnival rides, as well as game booths with prizes. $4 per coupon.

EVENT: Festive Light Show and Snowy Playtime
DATES: From now to 15 Dec (daily): 8PM & 9PM
VENUE: Level 1 City Green (outdoors)
DETAILS: A beautiful light show with a kaleidoscope of colours…. and snow!!

 

COLBAR (revisited): Kid-Friendly Cafes, Buona Vista, Singapore

Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore

 

Our lovely guest reviewer Debra first wrote about Colbar, so I got excited and wanted to bring my kids there too! Mum pointed out that it’s actually a bonafide old school cafe, which has been around for decades. It’s changed locations down the road, but still preserves all its vintage charm.

It is REALLY fun for the kids.

The cafe isn’t air-conditioned, but that’s just fine at this time of year-end, when the weather is actually really cool and breezy. It’s very outdoorsy which makes if excellent for the kids to stretch their legs in before and after the food arrives.

Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore

Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore

 

Video of the kids around Colbar

The interior is full of old world vintage charm. You could poke around for ages looking at all the knick knacks and vintage posters and photos!

Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore

 

The food is a mix of Western and local dishes. It’s a pretty extensive menu, which left us debating over what to order for ages. In the end, we decided on the Chicken Merry Land ($15.50), simply because quite a few other tables had ordered it. You get pretty good bang for your buck here – the chicken cutlet was breaded well and really crispy, topped with a jaunty sunny side up egg.  A scoop of baked beans, a grilled tomato and some potato wedges made for simple but tasty sides, and the dessert portion was a deep-fried battered banana. An excellent dish to get if you’re a big eater.

Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore

 

We also got the Chicken Curry Rice ($11) because it appeared on other tables (yes, I am one of THOSE nosy people that checks out what everyone else is ordering!). I’d definitely get this one again. It was a Japanese-style curry in the sense that it was creamy (made so with potatoes?). It was beautifully rich, and had just the right amount of spice for me. The chicken leg was meaty and tender, and the curry gravy was delicious with the plain white rice. Mmm…Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore

 

The kids enjoyed the Fried Ho Fun ($8) which came in a decent portion and was studded with lots of chicken and prawn meat. Sadly, it also came with bean sprouts (must remember to ask them to omit these next time). It’s a tad on the oily side, but then again, all fried noodle dishes are. Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore

 

Colbar do beer. A LOT of beer. A whole fridge stocked full of the stuff.. which you can just go up and select from. Excellent for sitting outside and sipping/chugging from.
Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore

 

The area outside is like catnip for kids. Something about the bits of pavement and drains seem to appeal to them… they had loads of fun pottering around there and getting busy with the grass and dirt.

Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore

 

Right across the road is the Temasek Club! Actually, Hunter spotted it cos he saw their epic playground from across the road at Colbar. He made a beeline in, and, I didn’t realise at first it was part of the club, and thought it was a public playground. I think you actually need to be a member of the club to use it, though! But, errmm… I didn’t know that until we were leaving (I got suspicious cos it seemed too nice to be a public thing).

Anyway, the kids got a couple of minutes of good fun in there!

Colbar - Brunch with my Baby SingaporeColbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore Colbar - Brunch with my Baby Singapore

 

 
Last Bite: Colbar is a retro lover’s delight, and the outdoor area is great fun for the kids! Except simple but tasty fare.
 
Highchairs: No
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Colbar
9A Whitchurch Rd
Singapore 138839
Phone: 6779 4859
Prices: $$
Hours: Closed on Mon. Tue – Sun: 11:00am – 10:00pm
 
 

Representing Your 'Hood: The Brooklyn Block Scarves

The Brooklyn Block #brooklynblock Scarves: Wear Your 'Hood via brunchwithmybaby.com

One of the crappiest things about crappy weather is having to do all your usual toting around of your kid, but now with tons more layers and accessories. The one bright spot? Winter layers that have style and street cred, like these scarves from The Brooklyn Block.

The Brooklyn Block folks have created a line of scarves that represent different neighborhoods in Brooklyn, like DUMBO, Red Hook and Clinton Hill. The process is something to geek-out about: First, they take videos of the various locations across Brooklyn, then they process them into code to generate specific patterns. The generated pattern is then printed on a scarf, reflecting the colors, layers and textures of that particular neighborhood.

Since we’re full of Brooklyn pride, Alexis and I were eager to take these scarves out into our own ‘hoods; Alexis in DUMBO, and me in Clinton Hill.

Each scarf is its own little work of art. Notice how beautifully each scarf picks up the colors of the specific Brooklyn neighborhood it represents. In DUMBO, Alexis’s scarf picked up the mellow shades of blue and grey of a late winter afternoon. And in Clinton Hill, Christine’s scarf played off of the subtle purples of the brownstones, and the grays from the wrought iron railings on the stoops.

The Brooklyn Block scarves are currently available online. Current blocks you can wear are Clinton Hill/Fort Greene, Red Hook, DUMBO and Dekalb Market. No news yet on if Park Slope will make the cut.

#TheBrooklynBlock scarves via brunchwithmybaby.com #TheBrooklynBlock scarves via brunchwithmybaby.com #TheBrooklynBlock scarves via brunchwithmybaby.com #TheBrooklynBlock scarves via brunchwithmybaby.com

 

The Brooklyn Block #brooklynblock Scarves: Wear Your 'Hood via brunchwithmybaby.com

The Brooklyn Block #brooklynblock Scarves: Wear Your 'Hood via brunchwithmybaby.com

brooklynblock-scarf-alexis

brooklynblock-scarf-alexis

 

GIVEAWAY: 5 Skibz bandana bibs (worth $20 each)!

Skibs bandana bibs - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Hailing from the UK, Skibz bandana bibs are really blimmin’ good.

Let me explain..

If you’ve seen Carter in real life, you’ll know he’s got some sort of…… drool issue.

He was an epic drooler since 4 months old. He’s drooled every day since (he’s now 15 months), a constant free-flow leaking tap, at every waking moment. And it shows no signs of abating. Frankly, I’m impressed he has that much liquid in him! I’m also surprised he hasn’t shrivelled up like a prune.

Because of this, I have an entire drawer stuffed to the brim with bibs. About 90% of them are really insanely cute, but are not usable – he soaks through them in an hour, tops. The remaining 10% of bibs are those double-sided ones or have the waterproof backing… except they’re all the regular U-shaped bib and look, well, baby-ish.

I was pleased with Skibz because:

  1. Skibz look good. I fully admit I like nice-looking stuff. The bandana style is just so *rockstar*! Plus, the adjustable press stud fastening works well for a growing kid.
  2. Skibz soak like crazy. The double-layer backing is highly absorbent and Carter wears this for a TEN-HOUR DAY without the back side getting damp. It’s impressive.
  3. Skibz look good. Oops. I said this already. But really, they’re so freakin’ cute!!!

 

Skibs bandana bibs - Brunch With My Baby Singapore Skibs bandana bibs - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Rockabye lane are giving away FIVE winners a Skibz bib in your choice of design
(worth $20 each)

a Brunch with my baby giveaway

You can submit some of the entries more than once a day, so come back tomorrow to get more entries in the draw.

Giveaway will run from 6 Dec to 12 Dec 2013 inclusive.
Winner’s entry(s) will be verified according to the entry criteria(s).
Rockabye lane will send each of the five winners a Skibz bib of their choice from available stock, to their nominated Singapore address.

 

So here’s Carter in his Skibz Red & Blue Stars Bandana Bib. The vibrant star print had me sold! I like pairing it with a solid coloured top, so it really shows off his bib. You have no idea how many times I’ve been asked by strangers “Is that a bib? Really? Where is it from?!” whenever he wears this out…

Skibs bandana bibs - Brunch With My Baby SingaporeSkibs bandana bibs - Brunch With My Baby Singapore Skibs bandana bibs - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

And the more understated but very dude-ish Skibz French Stripe Bandana. I reckon this looks nice paired with printed tops, because it doesn’t clash and just looks like a cool lil bandana!

Skibs bandana bibs - Brunch With My Baby SingaporeSkibs bandana bibs - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

There’s a variety of designs, which you can check out below. I just noticed they even have an organic version – oooooh!!!!

Skibs bandana bibs - Brunch With My Baby Singapore
Thanks Rockabye lane!

 

ROYAL CHINA @ RAFFLES HOTEL: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bugis, Singapore

Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

We used to yum cha all the time in Australia. But, for some reason, we hardly do since we moved to Singapore two years ago. Partly due to the fact that I’m not very familiar with such places in Singapore, and partly because my girl friends and I tend to end up at Western brunch places instead. Frankly, I get sick to death of Eggs Benedict! I’ve eaten it ten too many times…

So I was simply gagging for some good ‘ol Chinese dim sum!!

Royal China at the Raffles Hotel came highly recommended by word-of-mouth of my friends, all assuring me “you’re gonna LOVE the turquoise interior!”. They were right. I give the place top marks based on their decor alone. Beautiful Tiffany-blue everywhere, down to the water’s uniforms. High ceilings give it an airy, refined ambience. It’s a real experience to step in…

Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Because we had two young kids with us, we ordered the for Fish Congee ($7.80) for them to share. As one of the most expensive dim sum items, it was pretty skimpy on the fish – 3 slices and that was it. The rest was just rice. We were rather woeful, as the kids slurped the dish up with gusto and could have easily eaten double the amount of fish.

Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The most expensive item we ordered was the Carrot Cake with XO Sauce ($8.80). This is not to be confused with the carrot cake dessert by the way. This Chinese dish uses turnips which are stir-fried, in this case with egg and *horrors* beansprouts. I don’t recall this being mentioned on the menu, and I have a massive aversion to nasty little beansprouts, so this dish made it to my no-go zone. That said, it was tasty (albeit spicy) so if you don’t mean beansprouts, you’ll probably enjoy this dish.

Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

I was so pleased we ordered the Cheong Fun with Prawns ($5.80). The flat, wide strips of rice noodles were delicate and silky, balanced well with fresh prawns and a drizzle of light soy sauce. A simple but satisfying dish on the palate and I’d order this one again.

Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The Siew Mai with Goji Berries ($5.60) were delicious and steamed well. The goji berry was pretty redundant, apart from adding a cute pop of colour to this otherwise simple-looking dish.

Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

The Yam Puff with Scallops ($5.60) will satisfy those deep-fried lovers out there. It’s so airy and crispy, with a soft interior filled with mince and mushrooms. The scallop on top was, again, redundant – it was pretty dry and did not lend a lot of flavour to the yam puff.

Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Boasting an ultra fluffy bun, the Steamed Pork Buns ($4.80) were a hit with both adults and kids. The savoury filling and gravy paired very well with the plain steamed bun, and we all wolfed this one down.

Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

Ahhhh.. the best for the last. I’ve recently discovered the joys and wonder of Egg Yolk Custard Buns. This makes me wonder what I’ve been doing in the past three decades of my life. Not much, clearly. BECAUSE THESE BUNS ARE AMAZING!!!!!! Royal China’s Egg Yolk Bun ($4.80) was a delight. Different to other restaurants, they inject some mango juice in theirs, which sounds weird but it works. The sweetness and freshness of mango somehow takes away from the heaviness of the egg yolk custard. And ohhhhh that ooze!! I could eat four of these at one go.

Royal China Restaurant - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

 

 
 
Last Bite: Royal China do quality dim sum in an elegant setting within Raffles Hotel. Their Egg Yolk Buns are a must for dessert!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Royal China
Raffles Hotel
#03-09
1 Beach Rd
Singapore 189673

Phone: 6338 3363
Prices: $$$
Hours: Mon – Sat: 12:00 – 15:00, Sun & PH: 11:00 – 15:00, Mon – Sun: 18:00 – 22:30
 
 

The Ultimate Gift Guide For Foodies Of All Ages, Thanks To Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store

Looking for a gift for the foodie in your house? Our friend Ann Cantrell of Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store in Brooklyn has rounded up the absolute ULTIMATE in foodie gifts for all ages, even babies.

The Ultimate #Gift Guide for #Foodies of All Ages, care of Annies Blue Ribbon General Store and brunchwithmybaby.com

Foodie Gifts For Dad
1. Mason Shaker: $34
4. Brooklyn Slate Cutting Board: small 7″x12″ $26 or large 10″x14″ $30 

The Ultimate #Gift Guide for #Foodies of All Ages, care of Annies Blue Ribbon General Store and brunchwithmybaby.com
Foodie Gifts For Mom
1. Edible Brooklyn: $18.95
2. Produce Bags: $11.50
3. Edible Food Wheel: $7.50
4. Easy as Pie Tea Towel: $25
5. Falcon Pie Set: $75

The Ultimate #Gift Guide for #Foodies of All Ages, care of Annies Blue Ribbon General Store and brunchwithmybaby.com

Foodie Gifts For Older Kids
1. I Cookie Cutter: $16

The Ultimate #Gift Guide for #Foodies of All Ages, care of Annies Blue Ribbon General Store and brunchwithmybaby.com

Foodie Gifts For Toddler

The Ultimate #Gift Guide for #Foodies of All Ages, care of Annies Blue Ribbon General Store and brunchwithmybaby.com

Foodie Gifts For Baby
Wooden Animal Face Plates (1. Rabbit or 2. Monkey): $18

The Ultimate #Gift #Guide For Foodies Of All Ages care of Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store and Brunchwithmybaby.com

The Foodie Gift For Everyone
Cheese Socks: $12

If you’re in Brooklyn, drop by the storefront in Park Slope (be warned, you won’t be able to leave empty handed!

Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store
232 5th Ave (Between President and Carroll),
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone:(718) 522 9848

Ann Cantrell - Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store
Ann Cantrell, owner of Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store.

Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store : a modern general store for a well lived life. We have something for everyone on your list! 

THE MARSHMALLOW TREE (by guest writer Delphine Tan): Kid-Friendly Cafes, Telok Blangah, Singapore

Today, we have one of those super mums where you wonder how they can do it all yet look so put-together (ie. not a frantic mess). Delphine Tan of the popular blog Life In The Wee Hours has 2 kids, with a 3rd on the way, works, and still finds the time to go out brunching. Some people are just overachievers, you see.

She has taken the time to write us a fantastic review an adorable cafe. I am soooo going to check it out asap!

The following review is by guest reviewer Delphine Tan:

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

The Marshmallow Tree is a little café in the quiet housing estate of Telok Blangah, just a short distance away from the hustle and bustle Vivocity and Harbourfront.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

The Marshmallow Tree is a whimsical place: a swing in one corner, cozy mismatched chairs, a chalkboard wall, street lamps, a ceiling painted like the sky and a huge Domokun plush. Anya made a beeline for the brown creature and harassed it (him?) for a bit before settling down to draw at the chalkboard wall.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

We weren’t particularly hungry so we ordered a chicken pie and a domo cup. There’s no real hot meal on the menu and savoury items consist mainly of pies, wraps and sandwiches. As the name of the café indicates, the focus here is on marshmallow-based desserts. Every drink ordered also comes with a complimentary toasted marshmallow on a stick.

The café latte ($4.50) was very decent. Those who prefer a drink without caffeine may want to try the pretty pink rose latte which I saw quite a few diners ordering.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

The chicken pie ($4.50) was quite ordinary but Anya enjoyed it. It makes a good snack for the kids.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

The domo cup ($4.80) was a yummy and decadent dessert of toasted marshmallows, cream cheese, Mars bar with a biscuit base. Some people may find it a bit too sweet but Anya and I were quite happy to eat it all up.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Anya kept herself entertained by annoying giant Domokun, swinging on the swing and drawing on the chalkboard wall so I could enjoy my latte and dessert in relative peace. I am quite fond of toasted marshmallows so I wouldn’t mind dropping by again for coffee and dessert after I’ve had a proper meal somewhere else.

The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore The Marshmallow Tree - Brunch With My Baby Singapore

Last Bite: The Marshmallow Tree is great for those with a sweet-tooth but doesn’t offer much in the way of proper meals. Kids won’t be bored though!
Highchairs: No
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

The Marshmallow Tree
46 Telok Blangah Drive #01-82
Singapore 100046
Phone: 98521210
Prices: $$
Hours: Tue – Fri: 10:00 – 22:00, Sat, Sun & PH: 09:00 – 22:00

 

Delphine

Delphine is married to Adrian and mother to Anya & Adam (with another kiddo on the way). She spends her free time reading and collecting matryoshka. Besides being addicted to caffeine, Delphine also suffers from the compulsive need to Instagram every single plate of food that she eats. Read her ramblings at: http://intheweehours.wordpress.com