DIY: Ribbon Belt

I have been baking less these past few months, and crafting more.  One of the things that I have created out of an afternoon of free time is an easy-to-do and inexpensive belt made out of ribbons. With a little creativity you can create a belt for every outfit with leftover ribbon from your craft room.

This is one project that initially started as something to expand the accessories option for the girls’ closet; as I went along, I realized that I could borrow them, too!

 

This is a very fun project to do with the kids, or by yourself, even if you are just a novice crafter. With a few hours of toiling, you have a new and unique addition to your wardrobe.  You can use any ribbon of your choice; I used ribbons bought from Paris, some from Carolina’s, and still some from Divisoria. Grosgrain goes well with tailored dresses and blouses, ribbons with opulent needlepoint can further enhance a bohemian outfit, funky patterns can complement a favorite daily outfit.  There are no limits to the ribbon’s material and color; you can experiment with a variety of buckles as well.

You will need:

~ Ribbon, choose a ribbon that is slightly thinner than the width of the D-Rings or buckle

~ 2 D-Rings or one decorative buckle (can be purchased at any Carolina’s store)

~ needle and thread 

All you have to do:

1.  Wrap the ribbon around your waist and overlap about 6-12 inches.  What I keep in mind when I cut my ribbons is that the waist falls differently on different type of clothing.  If worn on a dress, then the belt would sit rather close to the natural waistline; it lies much lower when worn with a low-rise skirt or pants.  Consider this when deciding on the length.  Cut the belt to length, leaving an extra inch or so to hem the ends.

2 .  Put one end of the ribbon through the D-rings. Fold and sew down.  The closer to the D rings you are able to stitch, the less movement and more secure your belt will be.

3 .  Sew a line on the end of the ribbon belt to prevent frayed edges.

With a few hours of crafting and creativity, you can have a selection of low-cost yet stylish accessories to pull your favorite outfits together.

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Singapore 2011: City Highlights

To read all posts about our 2011 Singapore Trip click here

When I first went to Singapore with my sisters years ago, we went on a city tour and stopped by almost all of the city attractions.  We were all adults on the trip then so we did not mind all the walking, and packed our days to see as much attractions as our feet could take.   

But going there recently with the kids in tow, we just carefully chose the attractions to visit, bearing in mind the kids’ interest.  We were content with just viewing some of the city attractions from afar.  The Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade is a good place to bring the kids to catch a glimpse of the Merlion, the Singapore Flyer, the futuristic Helix Bridge, the floating LV store , the Singapore Street Circuit, and many other city sights.

Merlion Park is the archetypal representation of Singapore and offers a great photo opportunity with the Merlion statue, which has a lion’s head and a fish’s body.  Esplanade is Singapore’s premier performing arts venue, much similar to our own CCP.  It is also fondly called “durian” by the locals because the spiky domes resembles the tropical fruit when viewed from afar.  In the photo below, you can also see one of the tallest buildings in Singapore, the Swissotel @ The Stamford, dot the city skyline.

The lotus-shaped Art Science Museum is the newest museum destination in Singapore.

The floating Louis Vuitton Island Maison is the first of its kind in the world.  Even though I was not bag-hunting, I just had to see what the fuss is all about.  The store is huge, with three levels of merchandise display.  But more than the bags, what caught my attention were the artworks displayed at the underwater tunnel that joins the LV store island to The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.  For book lovers such as myself, get ready to be delighted by the bookstore which carries a careful selection of books on travel, design, art and culture.

 

image source

 Somo photo-op at the Marina Bay promenade

 

The Singapore Flyer is the world’s largest observation wheel and offers one of the best panoramic views of the city from a glass capsule.  The futuristic Helix Bridge is a pedestrian linkway resembling the structure of DNA.  At night, the bridge is illuminated which highlights  the double-helix structure and creates a visual treat.

We did not feel the need to let the kids get on the Singapore Flyer anymore since we already stayed at the Marina Bay Sands, which allowed us to take the kids to the SkyPark.  And we have to say that the unlimited view afforded by the Sky Park is simply unparalleled.  Perched way up on the top of the Marina Bay Sands, the SkyPark offers an unrivalled 360-degree view of Singapore while we enjoyed the world's largest and highest outdoor infinity pool.

Since I arranged our itinerary with the days filled with attractions for the kids, I reserved the nights for shopping and sightseeing along Orchard Road.  I am quite lucky that the sun is still out even at close to seven in the evening.  We walked the whole stretch, with frequent stops to gratify each of our individual reasons.  For C and R, the benches were a comfortable pit stop.  For B, the elephants that lined Orchard, and the rest of Singapore, for that matter were a good excuse to stop and play.  For J and me, it was the shops and their beautiful display windows that invited us to come in. 

 

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Singapore 2011: Where to Stay & How To Get Around

To real all posts about our 2011 Singapore Trip, click here

We stayed at two hotels during our recent trip to Singapore.  Our first stop was at the Swissotel@The Stamford.  The I.M Pei designed hotel was recently featured in Conde Nast Traveler Magazine (USA) Gold List 2011. South-East Asia's tallest hotel has 71 floors, with the rooms and suites outfitted with stunning picture-window views of the Singapore skyline. 

In the mornings, the girls and I head down to the pool, while my boys are left still sleeping in the room.

 

Our accomodations came with breakfast, which we always enjoyed luxuriously (read: we took time to eat everything!) The buffet spread is typical of any hotel, but they do highlight Chinese, Malay and Indian influences, as well as the typical continental breakfast fare.  I always start mine with a small bowl of congee to warm my tummy.  I was a daily visitor to the cheese platter, and always coming back for seconds.  And it was such a delight to eat it slathered with honey fresh from the comb.  A real joy to eat honey this pure, untouched by human hands.

The kids are creatures of habit, as well.  Everyday, B, my li'l gourmand, brings to me a plate full of salmon, pastrami, bread, and cream cheese

 

patiently waiting as I turn it into a filling sandwich. 

Our room is decorated with comforting colors of brown and amber.  The sheets that came with the double-sized beds were of a high percale count and feels velvety to the skin.  The only problem I had with the room were the lights.  You see, when the kids are sleeping, C and I turn on the accent lights to relax a bit before actually going to sleep.  C looks at the map and prepare for the next day's itinerary, and we both read the papers before finally calling it a night. I felt that the accent lighting of the room was not enough to make relaxation pleasurable.    (Yeah I am a lighting snob like that :) ) 

The room came with its own Nespresso machine with a variety of coffee pods for selection.  I am not really a coffee drinker so I did not enjoy this complimentary facility.  But I have friends who are coffee aficionados, and from them I have learned that Nespresso is marketed as an exclusive luxury coffee.

 
What C and I really love about this hotel is that it is conveniently located right in the heart of the city so everything is almost within walking distance.  Everything is so near... there's a taxi stop as soon as we step out the hotel; a few steps away and we are in the City Hall subway station.  We took the cab to go anywhere and everywhere.  There is a taxi stand just right outside the hotel with taxis waiting for passengers to hop on, so that's what we did everyday.   The kids would do a lot more walking when we actually get to our destination, so energy conservation was what we had in mind. :) It was also more economical for our big family to just take a cab.  

The hotel also just sits above a modern and spacious food court, which is just perfect for my kids who are always hungry; a big grocery is also just nearby; and the Raffles City Mall is also in the same complex.

 

We just love the selection that can be found in the nearby grocery.

 

 

When our friends and relatives found out that we were planning a Singapore vacation, most of them immediately advised to book a room at the Marina Bay Sands.  December being a super peak season for travel, rooms were fully booked already.  Fortunately, C got a confirmation one week before our departure.

The kids loved our stay at Marina Bay Sands that it was so hard to get them out of the room...you will understand why when you see our room.

Sorry for the personal belongings already scattered across the room; the kids were all oohs and aahs as soon as they stepped in.  Had to remind them to let me take some photos first before they jumped in on the bed.

To the right of the entry is a walk-in closet, it was as big as a small room in a condo.  We placed all our luggage and shopping bags in this room.

To the right is the spacious bathroom.  I love that we have a walk-in shower and NOT a bathtub.  Much more convenient for the kids and I do not have to worry about anyone slipping while getting in the tub.

 Here's the rest of the photos of the room

The couch can be drawn out as a queen-sized bed

High-speed internet access is complimentary.  The executive desk in our room also has a flap which opens up to a charging station for all our gadgets.  The room also has a remote control for the motorized drapes, which amused the kids. 

Hotel guests have exclusive use of the 150 meter Sands Skypark infinity swimming pool, the world’s largest outdoor pool at 200 meters above ground level. At this height, guests can enjoy the best view of the Singapore skyline.  

If your are not a hotel guest, you can still have the chance to see the SkyPark and enjoy the best view of the Singapore panorama by purchasing a ticket.  However the access is limited to the Public Obsevation Deck, and it only offers a limited view of the infinity pool.

Unfortunately for us, Singapore was experiencing rainy weather during our visit.  The cloudy skies did not really make for nice photos.  I was hoping to enjoy the sunset on the pool deck, but unfortuntely my view was limited to gray skies and the occasional drizzle of rain. But if I were lucky enough, the glorious view should have looked something like this..

image source

And in the mornings, the spectacular view should have resembled this

image source

But I did not raise a bunch of complainers...   so the fun goes on - freezing water and gray skies notwithstanding! haha! :)  It is important to share with you one importand detail:  the water is freezingly cold.  Even J who is used to early morning training and training with heavy rains found the pool temperature unsettling.  

As soon as they jump in, everyone goes into a huddle, as if staying together will make the water warmer.  As for me, I wasn't really that brave... I need about an hour or so for my body to acclimatise. :)

Since we were traveling during the super peak season, there is a throng of crowd everywhere we go, and that includes checking-in. But the kids and the hubby did not notice the long wait since they were escorted to a waiting lounge where they have unlimited access to drinks.

The hotel also offers complimentary use of its business center and its facilities so we confirmed our return flight, checked-in online and printed our boarding passes.  There are also airport shuttle buses available free of charge.

Getting Around in Singapore:  

As with any travel experience, expect to do a lot of walking in Singapore.  

For most, the MRT is primary choice of getting around, because it goes just about everywhere, it is clean, fast and safe. The route maps are color coded making it easy to understand. 

The buses are numerous and efficient, you just have to be willing to wait for one since they stop at timed intervals.

For visitors, there is the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, but it is for tourists who are short of time and would like to pack their day with a long list of places to visit.  Not for those who would like to linger and enjoy the place.

For my family, clearly, the best way to get around is Singapore is by taxi. It is the most comfortable and hassle-free way to get us to our destination.  It is also the most economical for us since there are 2 adults and 3 kids, the maximum number of passengers allowed.  Any more than that and you have to split the company in 2 cabs.   

There was one time that C and the two younger kids went back home earlier as J and I had decided to do some late-night shopping at Orchard Road.  They took a cab home and paid around $8, while J and I took the MRT from Orchard and got off two stops away and paid a similar amount.  Imagine if all 5 of us took the MRT, we would have paid a total of $20 for the train, against just $8 for the cab.  

Not only are the taxis cheaper, many times the drivers often give us good advice about where to shop, what to do or where to go.  C oftentimes engage them in small talk, and the drivers would talk away, telling us about their country in the same manner that a tour guide would.  Plus, there is a line of taxis standing by just right outside our hotel so there is hardly any waiting time. 

If you are going to plan your visit around the December break, it is best if you pack along a foldable umbrella, a hat and a water-proof raincoat while you go around the city.

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ASCOF Lagundi: All-Natural and Effective Cough Remedy

Must be due to the weather, I noticed that a lot of the kids seem to have coughs and colds.  In my own family, the kids have been suffering from coughs one after the other.  Like any other mom, I worry for them whenever they get sick, and I want them to get better at the soonest possible time.  

When my kids were younger, the pediatrician used to tell me that the best way to take out cough and phlegm is to drink a lot of fluids because water is the best mucolytic.  Now that the kids are older and have a lot more activities, getting sick can mean a not up-to-par sports performance and/or missing endurance training. 

I got a package in the mail form ASCOF Lagundi the other day, and it could not have come at a better time because at the first sign of coughing, I always give my kids ASCOF Lagundi.  Unlike other cough medicines, ASCOF Lagundi is made from all-natural lagundi leaves, which is one of the 10 herbal medicines endorsed by the Department of Health.  Lagundi is a natural, herbal medicine with proven therapeutic value.  I feel better knowing that the cough medicine I am giving my kids is effective and not loaded with chemicals which might actually do more harm than good.

It has been clinically proven effective in treating not just cough but also bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and pharyngitis. Moreover, the Department of Science and Technology has performed numerous studies on Lagundi – these studies have shown that Lagundi has been clinically validated to inhibit the release of leukotrienes, which makes it effective in controlling asthma, as well. Some doctors even prescribe Lagundi to assist in the treatment of asthma, as regular doses reduce the severity of asthma attacks. Aside from having no side-effects, herbal drugs are less expensive than their synthetic counterparts.

ASCOF-Lagundi is commercially available in Ponkan, Menthol, and Strawberry-flavored 60-mL and 120-mL syrup variants. It also comes in 300-mg. and Forte 600-mg. tablets.

They are also running a promo right now, giving away 200 pieces of ASCOF-Lagundi capsules to TEN winners each day from January 30 to February 14, 2012.  Go to their Facebook page to know more about their brand, and to join the promo.

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Instagram Weekend: January 21-22, 2011

Another weekend in a blink of an eye... just like that and we are almost into the second month of the year already.  Have you made any plans for this weekend?  

We were at the Bonifacio High Street last weekend to celebrate the birthday of one of the kids' swimming team-mate.  There is a building there that houses the newly-opened Active Fun, along with some other boutique stores that all cater to children.  The kids enjoyed the tri-level area of playspace so much that they stayed from mid-afternoon up to the time the store closed at 9pm, only stopping to have dinner.

What I loved most about this branch is that the waiting area for parents is at the farthest part of the room so there is less noise, and the waiting parents can talk comfortably and hear each other without having to shout.  For parents with kids who needs more supervision, the yayas can also wait at the benches near the entrance.  There are also numerous function rooms that you can rent to celebrate your child's birthday.

A helpful reminder when you bring your kids to Active Fun:  make sure you bring socks and bottles of water.  Otherwise, you might have to end up purchasing over-priced socks and water.:)

While the kids played non-stop at Active Fun, the moms found time for some relaxation at The Spa.  It is my first time to try The Spa at Boni Hi-St.  It has the same serene and calm surrounding as their other branches, but this one strikes me as being sterile-looking, maybe because the minimalist design was taken too far.  

The service however was equal with the rest of the other branches so it is still worth a second visit.

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Singapore 2011: Changi Airport

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Some say that the airport is the visitors’ first and last impression of the country, and so it is just relevant that the facility must accurately reflect the country.  Our experience at the Singapore Changi Airport was able to justifiably manifest this. The facility was clean, modern, with a very spacious and highly functional lay-out; its personnel efficient and courteous.  A truly modern and global airport that is befitting of its title as the world’s most awarded airport.  

Upon our arrival at the Singapore Airport, while waiting for our turn at the immigration counter, I walked over to the nearest visitors’ kiosk and obtained several copies of the free city map, one for each of us. The city map helped us get around throughout our Singapore trip. 

With the new tourism campaign of "It's More Fun In The Philippines," the country should also consider providing tourist with free city maps and event guides.  After all, almost every country we have been to has a Visitor Center near the immigration.

C and I always divide our family when clearing immigration, we find it more time-efficient as there are 2 officials to process our family, instead of everyone of us standing in front of just one customs officer.

Getting out of the airport couldn't be made easier than it already is! The airport is huge and has three terminals, but travelers do not feel overwhelmed because there are huge signage everywhere.  It took us about 20 minutes to get from the tarmac, pass through customs, to claiming the baggage. 

We took a 6-seater maxicab from the airport since we had considerable number of baggage with us.  Waiting time for a cab took about 5 minutes.  Fare for the maxicabs are fixed at S$50, from the airport to any hotel in Singapore. Not exactly cheap, but we did not mind (too much) since the kids were with us and we know we were paying for convenient and secure transportation.  

For groups with less people or even for a family like us with three kids but with, ehem, less number of luggage, a regular taxi will suffice and the rate would amount to just $38, depending of course from where you are coming from within Singapore.   I know this because going from the city to the airport, we were helped by a Filipino bellhop who creatively managed to arrange all of our luggage to fit at the trunk of a regular taxi.  The Singaporean cab driver could simply just scratch his head. hehehe!:)

 

The other transportation available from the airport are:

~ Taxis. Taxis are available at the taxi stands at the Arrival levels of each Terminal. The journey to the city is estimated to cost between $18.00 and $38.00 and takes approximately 30 minutes. Fares are metered and there is additional $5 airport surcharge for all trips originating from the airport.

~Buses. I think for a visitor with luggage, the bus would be the least convenient option as this might require several transfers..

~ MRT.  The Changi Airport MRT Station is located at the basement of Terminals 2 and 3, accessible from the Arrival and Departure Halls through escalators and lifts.  

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