Newly Renovated Kitchen Upgraded With Brandt Ovens

When we got married in our early 20’s and renovated our 3-room flat, we knew that cooking would be pretty rare for us. In fact, we even had our kitchen space reduced to make more room for the living area. It worked pretty well for us in the beginning since we were eating out most of the time. Things are a little different now that we have 5 young kids, and we decided on a full kitchen with all the necessary household appliances during our recent renovations since we have a bigger space.

Brandt offers complimentary in-home product demonstratio with purchase too! Look how professional our kitchen looked with the ovens!

For the first time ever, we actually have a REAL oven (which the wife requested) and even a full-sized microwave oven! Both looking really professional, unlike me and my wife, both whom totally can’t cook at all! I can still remember the time when I happily bought some cupcake mix and tried baking them together with the kiddo in the only oven we had, which is really just a small toaster oven. Well, our muffins didn't look anything like what the packaging depicted and ended up flat or deflated, just like my confidence.

Having a microwave oven for heating up that ready-to-eat meal is really convenient.

We can't really cook lah... so besides having the helper to cook, these are great at times too.

I am shameless to say here that even though I am a bad user, just having our new Pyrolytic Oven (BXP6575X) and Combi Microwave (BKC6575X) was enough to make me feel absolutely happy and proud that our kitchen is complete. I was already imagining all the wonderful roasted meat and delicious bakes materialize before my eyes. Sigh... unfortunately even after months later, they remained just my imaginations, for we still hadn't found time to learn cooking for goodness sake!

The kiddos loved to watch how they "cooked" inside our pyrolytic oven.

Look at our piggy pineapple tarts!

Having said that, we did try out baking some pineapple tarts during CNY period after a fun baking workshop pique our interest, and the tarts we baked turned out to be pretty impressive to us. We are loving how easy one can operate the ovens, even for noobs. I know of many awesome parents who work but are yet are able to whip up an awesome spread for the family when home, and I really salute them. We may not be the most adept users but we sure love our Brandt ovens, and how they make us feel so pro lol!

This post is a review collaboration between The "Perfect" Father & Brandt but all photos and views belongs solely ours. 

Also check out our post on -

Brandt Front Load Washing Machine and Front Load Dryer

Brandt Induction Hob
Brandt Built-In Extractor Hood 
Brandt In-Home Product Demonstration 

Safari Zoo Run 2019

[Media Invite]

So good to be back at Safari Zoo Run again this year, marking our fifth consecutive year participating in this fun run! They call it a run, but we actually only took part in the 4km Safari Zoo Walk category lah. Still an achievement for the kids ok? Even though they never fail to keep asking when the walk is ending as they have other plans in mind, such as going for the animal shows and looking for our reptile keeper friend! 

They got an MP as GOH to wave runners off. 

We were the very last of the first batch of "walkers"

Still happy at the start lah...

A little buay tahan already, asking why need to take photo again at the end.

In all honestly this is getting a little difficult for me to write about this anymore. The run / walk is still as fun for the family lah. But I have to highlight that this is the only run (or walk) in Singapore, that you will stop and maybe take photo photos every now and then, of the animals or with them! A very enjoyable walk indeed, especially with the little ones and great for bonding through exercise too! 

Looking at pigs in the year of the pig! 

Take photos with mascot.

Take photos with bamboos.

Even logs also can take photo. Basically lots of instagrammable places beckoning one to stop lor!

We have so many different runs in Singapore lor, and I remember some of the goodie bags were really quite impressive, with lots of sponsored products! But of late have you noticed that the goodie bags are getting quite pathetic even thought the runs still cost as much, if not more? But I understand that getting sponsors also not easy these days. This  Safari Zoo Run still not bad lor, because you get a water bottle plus 50% discount coupons for Jurong Bird Park and Night Safari on top of your usual tee and finisher medal. 

We went pass the Night Safari as well!

With all the four cute mascots!

Timings changed in view of the run. So that runners also can enjoy more!

MOST importantly, if you have gotten early bird prices for your race slots, the run is practically free as well lor. Why leh? Because the price you would have paid is even lesser that that of a 2-park combo ticket for River Safari and Singapore Zoo, the two places you can revisit on the same day right after the event! I am really calculative one hor, and I can tell you this run is definitely worth it. Don't hesitate hor and be sure to book your running slots early when the registrations for Safari Zoo Run 2020 opens! It will be worth it!

The little finishers!

And this one is finished for the day. Lol!

Thank you so much for having our family at the run again Wildlife Reserves Singapore! And we are so so looking forward to the next edition!

A Different Kind of Birthday Party

Stacci celebrated her 7th birthday last November with a group of close friends in a Tsum Tsum themed cookie baking class last November at Butter and Bake. It was her first time trying her hands on baking cookies all from scratch (and mine too actually). Read on to find out what you expect from such a kids baking birthday party!

This was our group right in front of their old shopfront.

We probably held one of the last few birthday baking parties at their old premise at Crawford Lane as they have now moved over and started operations at 110 Lorong 23, Geylang Victory Centre, #03-01 since Jan. Their old premise space was about the size of a HDB shophouse and would only possibly fit a maximum 20 kids + 7 pairs parents comfortably? I think their new place can accommodate more now!

The kiddos all getting ready to get their hands dirty!

We were all pleasantly surprised by the decorations put up by the team when we arrived at the premise. There were colorful helium balloons and a big beautiful banner (add on) for Stacci as well! The work tables were neatly arranged, with all the necessary ingredients for a successful baking session all prepared beforehand.

They even did a banner for Stacci!

Don't you just love the aroma of freshly-baked pastries when you walk pass the bakeries? Well, the team also prepared the freshest lemon tartlets, chocolate tartlets, mini chocolate croissants and mini apple lattice for everyone as well. That's not all, still have har kow, siew mai and drinks for everyone too! However these are not included in their basic package, but you have the option to top up for all these goodies too.

These tartlets were the bomb! I had so many I lost count!

The majority of those in our group, save for a few maybe, were total noobs when it comes to baking but the facilitators were patient and pretty good at getting the kiddos' attention during the demonstration, and imparting the necessary skills for us to do what we need to do back at our tables. We were taught how to shape the cute Tsum Tsum Pooh Bear but the kiddos were given full autonomy on what they wanted to make in the end. The adults couldn't keep their hands off also lah, and everyone was also trying to make their own creation lor!

Briefing the kiddos on what is expected of them.

The younger ones would probably need adult supervision.

Watching very closely to the demonstration.

Being the birthday girl, Stacci was asked to help out too.

Pooh Bear Tsum Tsum. Cute right?

Got Piglet as well lor!

But look what the kiddos did. Lol.

But it was not only cookies they baked, but the kiddos made their own pizzas for snacks as part of the package. They rolled their own dough and added in their own ingredients too. A really hands-on session which yielded some great-tasting pizzas at the end. I really wonder if it was really that nice, because we were hungry or because it was so fresh from the oven! Nevertheless, the kiddo polished all the plates clean lor!

The girlfriends making pizza dough!

Kiddos rolling the dough and adding the toppings!

Simple delicious pizza straight from the oven!

What's a birthday party without a birthday cake? And Stacci had a very fresh rainbow cake, with super cute Tsum Tsum decorative toppers at the end of the baking class to celebrate with everyone. The only problem was, everyone was already full by this time as they indulged in the pastries and cookies throughout, even though the cake was delicious too!

Stacci with her rainbow cake topped with Tsum Tsum character decorations. How beautiful! 

Prices start at $55 / child for their basic birthday party packages (min 10 kids up to 30 kids max) which comes with the basic decoration and the cake as well. Up to 20 adults can join in with the kids as well and you can upgrade your package to include refreshments for adults or dessert table too. Go for the upgraded packages if you wanna splurge a little because their pastries are really nice. BUT the basic package is already good enough for the kiddos to enjoy! Check out what they offer below -

Thank you Butter and Bake for hosting Stacci's birthday! The party was completely fuss-free for our family and every detail was well-taken care of! From the feedback gathered, everyone had a great time at the party and there were also a few enquiries from our friends! We shall look forward to more baking sessions in the near future and congratulations on the move!

Meanwhile for all readers out there, we are pleased to inform that you will be entitled to 10% off their published rates for the packages when you quote The "Perfect" Father in your booking (before 30th April 2019) with them! So go on, check out their official website at http://www.butterandbake.com.sg or email them at info@butterandbake.com.sg for enquiries! 

Mini Science Encyclopedia 8th edition

[Review & Giveaway]

I have always been intrigued by the natural world, be it flora or fauna and I am guessing that it was because of the set of humongous encyclopedia that my dad bought me when I was in primary school. There were no internet back then and it was that set of books that kept me occupied for hours as I digested the vast information. There were illustrations and photos for sure, but there were mostly just text.

Fast-forward to having my own kids now, I knew they loved science as well because I had been chatting with them. It was only when I looked through what they have been reading, that I realized why they liked the subject. The books looked more like comic books rather than about Science, and featured stories instead of only facts. It is a tough business to engage kids these days, given the amount of "distractions" they are exposed to. Companies really have to "one up" another to fight for attention!

Download the app from App Store or Google Play.

We recently received a copy of Mini Science Encyclopedia 8th edition from Marshall Cavendish Education for the kiddos to check it out. Besides the usual plant propagation, animal reproduction and the various interesting examples illustrated, there were also useful snippets included such as how to tell fresh and rotten eggs apart!

With reference to our local context too!

But the most interesting thing about this book, would have to be the Augmented Reality (AR) that is powered by SnapLearn app. So now besides reading the book on its own (flat pages), the kiddos will be able to scan the pages using the app and see 3D renditions of the animals pop up and listen to commentaries! Well, it sure make learning more fun for the kiddos.

Any more realistic than AR, it would have to be the real thing like this!

In partnership with Marshall Cavendish Education, we are pleased to gift a copy of Mini Science Encyclopedia 8th edition to 2 lucky readers. All you need to do is to complete the following steps before Sun, 10 Feb 2019 -

1) Follow Marshall Cavendish Education on Facebook;
2) Follow The "Perfect" Father on Facebook;
3) Like and Share this Facebook post publicly;
4) Comment in the Facebook post the reason why you should win the giveaway, and tag 3 Facebook friends too.

Please note that winners will have to collect the books from Times Centre (Reception area), 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196 before 15 February 2019 (Open Monday to Friday between 10am to 5pm). Gook luck to all!