Tag Archives: christmas

Christmas and the Joy of Giving

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

How was your Christmas? We had a few gatherings with friends and family and we really enjoyed just being able to spend time with loved ones. Of course, the kids were delighted to receive so many presents and it was hard to remind them of the true meaning of Christmas.

If I ask Anya why we celebrate Christmas, she would tear herself away from her presents just long enough to recite the answer she knows I want to hear. Indeed, we celebrate the birth of our Saviour and we want to bless others because we have been so richly blessed. For now, we can only hope to set a good example for the kids and get them involved in thinking of the less fortunate around us.

FOX Christmas

This year, we have tried to be a blessing in many small ways. We raised more than $500 for Club Rainbow by selling Rainbow Loom charms and bracelets. We took part in BB Share-A-Gift by buying food items and volunteering to deliver food hampers to beneficiaries. Most recently, we also donated 200 t-shirts to Touch Community Services. This donation was initiated and generously sponsored by Fox Fashion.

Next year, we will be sponsoring an orphan in Myanmar and I would like the kids to think about children who do not have what they take for granted. As they get older, I hope that the kids begin to understand the true meaning of Christmas. With time, may they will eventually be the ones to initiate community projects and reach out to the needy.

FOX Christmas

GIVEAWAY

Fox Fashion is also giving away a $100 voucher to one lucky reader!

To qualify, simply do the following by Wednesday, 31 December 2014, 2359H (Singapore time):
1. Like the ‘Fox Fashion‘ Facebook page.
2. Like the ‘In the Wee Hours’ Facebook page.
2. Like and comment on this Facebook post telling me what you love most about Christmas.

Terms & Conditions: This giveaway is open to Singapore residents only. Winners will be contacted through Facebook message and will have 24 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. All incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries will be verified before the winners are announced. To be fair to our sponsors, please note that all fake Facebook accounts (e.g. accounts set up purely to take part in contests with no or very few real friends) will also be ineligible to win.

Egg Carton Christmas Wreath

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I saw some egg cartons at my mum’s place the other day and immediately pounced on them. She gave me a funny look and said she was planning to throw them out! I decided to look for something Christmassy I could make with the egg cartons and found this DIY Egg Carton Wreath. I’m a bit embarrassed to link to it, to be honest, because mine looks nothing like it!

So I cut up a box using some cookie tins and cut up the egg carton into leaves and flowers. It’s really hard to cut egg cartons! My hand was aching after one so I gave up and didn’t cut up the other one, hence my wreath is somewhat lacking in flowers.

the tools and materials

the tools and materials

all cut up

all cut up

final product

final product

Here are some other Christmas wreaths made by craftier mummies:

A Juggling Mom
 A Pancake Princess
 MalMal Our Inspiration

BB Share-A-Gift Delivery 2014

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It was raining quite heavily this morning and we just wanted to stay home and hide under the blankets, but we got out of the house anyway because we were going to deliver food hampers for BB Share-A-Gift!

The last couple of times we delivered food hampers, we only brought Anya along with us. However, my folks were out of town today so we lugged all three kids to BBHQ and then to Tanglin Halt. It certainly wasn’t easy, especially with the rain, but it was a meaningful experience for the whole family. I’m thankful that all (except one) of the blocks were close together and linked by sheltered walkways and that they had lifts serving every floor.

Adrian loading the food hampers in the rain

Adrian loading the food hampers in the rain

delivering the hampers

delivering the hampers

one of the beneficiaries

one of the beneficiaries

his first BB Share-A-Gift!

his first BB Share-A-Gift!

chatting with one of the beneficiaries

chatting with one of the beneficiaries

We don’t really have any family traditions for Christmas but this is something that we plan to do every year as a family. As we remember the reason for the season, we should also try to bring joy to the less fortunate at Christmas by giving of our time, money and energy!

Here’s how you can help:

  • Go to one of the donation locations and buy food items to donate. They need items like rice, biscuits, cooking oil, instant noodles, condiments, beverages and canned food (halal). You can also adopt wishes at some of the locations. The operating period is until 17 December 2014, 11.00 am to 9.00 pm daily.
  • Those unable to make a trip down to a donation location or who are overseas can make an online donation of food and household hampers valued at $30 or $50.
  • If you drive and have a vehicle, you can volunteer to deliver food hampers.
  • Already actively involved? Tell your friends and family about BB Share-A-Gift and get them involved as well! Like their Facebook page to be kept updated about the items they need.

Do join us in helping the beneficiaries of BB Share-A-Gift!

A CBeebies Christmas at Plaza Singapura

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What a dreary rainy day! There’s nothing much you can do about it except hide out in some shopping mall. The good news is, there are lots of Christmas performances going on in the malls. At Plaza Singapura, you can catch Super Numtum and Teletubbies in the ‘CBeebies Live! Countdown to Christmas’ live show! Mister Maker will also be appearing via a special TV link.

Mister Maker

Mister Maker

Super Numtum

Super Numtum

Teletubbies

Teletubbies

altogether now!

altogether now!

the kids dancing along

the kids dancing along

photo with the Teletubbies

photo with the Teletubbies

CBeebies Live! Countdown to Christmas
 Level 1, Main Atrium, Plaza Singapura
Date: until 7 December
Time: Weekdays, 1pm & 7pm; Weekends, 1pm, 4pm & 7pm
Spend a minimum of $30 to redeem a photo pass with Teletubbies or Super Numtum after the show!

Zing Zillas Roving Meet & Greet
Date: 6 & 7 December, 27 to 30 December

Kids’ Craft Workshop
Level 1, Main Atrium, Plaza Singapura
Date: 10 – 21 December
Time: Daily 12pm, 2pm, 4pm & 6pm
Spend a minimum of $60 to redeem a pass to the workshop!

Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay

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We’ve been listening to a lot of Christmas music and are in a festive mood. We felt extremely Christmassy on Friday when we visited Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay. The light sculptures were twinkling and it felt like there was magic in the air.

Visiting the Flower Dome made us feel like we were walking through a snowy little Christmas village somewhere in Europe. The cool temperature, the snowman, the reindeer… I wouldn’t have been surprised if someone had suddenly burst out singing, “Let it snow!” You can enjoy 10% off admission rates into the cooled conservatories if you book online at least one day before your visit. You may even meet Miffy there!

Yuletide in the Flower Dome

Yuletide in the Flower Dome

Christmas village

Christmas village

reindeers

reindeers

little snowpeople getting cosy

little snowpeople getting cosy

Christmas is a time to love!

Christmas is a time to love!

charming displays

charming displays

simply stunning!

simply stunning!

Santa Claus is coming to town

Santa Claus is coming to town

candy factory

candy factory

Outside, the Christmas magic continued. Handcrafted by Italian craftsmen, the Luminaire light sculptures are breathtakingly beautiful and truly a sight to behold. The Spalliera is the largest and most impressive at 31 metres wide and 17 metres high. Thrice a day (weather permitting) from now until 21 December, ‘snow’ will fall at 7.30 pm, 8.20 pm, 9.05 pm and 9.45 pm. The kids had such a blast during Blizzard Time.

Another highlight is the Festive Market featuring Christmas merchandise and yummy treats. The spectacular Spiegeltent, a travelling ‘mirror tent’ from The Netherlands, offers an exclusive dining experience and the menu changes every week. Items are priced from $7 and a minimum purchase of a drink is required for entry into the Spiegeltent.

Luminaire arches leading to Supertree Grove

Luminaire arches leading to Supertree Grove

Casa Armonica with the Supertrees in the background

Casa Armonica with the Supertrees in the background

this mini capola will host 12 days of choirs and other performances

this mini capola will host 12 days of choirs and other performances

Geylang Methodist Secondary School choir getting ready to sing

Geylang Methodist Secondary School choir getting ready to sing

Christmas market

Christmas market

sweet treats by Janice Wong

sweet treats by Janice Wong

the spectacular Spiegeltent

the Spiegeltent

the magnificent Spalliera

the magnificent Spalliera

Blizzard Time

Blizzard Time

the snow never bothered her anyway

the snow never bothered her anyway

fun for the whole family

fun for the whole family

stilt-walkers

stilt-walkers

Garden Rhapsody

Garden Rhapsody

There are many activities for children, performances, roving acts and other special events at Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay so do check out the website for details. The kids were quite taken by the fantastical glowing stilt-walkers and had a great time dancing to Christmas tunes during the special Christmas edition of Garden Rhapsody.

I’m simply blown away by Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay and amazed that we get to see and experience a Christmas paradise like this in tropical Singapore. You really cannot miss this and in fact should go more than once because there’s so much happening there.

The Festive Market will run until 21 December, the Luminaire light sculptures will be lit up until 1 January and Yuletide in the Flower Dome will continue until 6 January. Access to Christmas Wonderland at Gardens by the Bay is free while admission charges apply to the Flower Dome.

Have a very Merry Christmas at Gardens by the Bay!

BB Share-A-Gift 2014

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It’s that time of the year again! The Boys’ Brigade is collecting food and household items from the public to sort and pack into food hampers for beneficiaries, which will then be delivered to their homes. The BB Share-A-Gift project reaches out to more than 6,000 households who are receiving assistance from Government-funded ComCare programmes and from 202 Voluntary Welfare Organisations.

Every year, we take the kids to one of the donation locations to purchase food items for donation and we also volunteer to deliver food hampers. This year, we have gone one step further and are involved in the publicity materials as well!

Have a Heart, Share a Gift

Have A Heart, Share A Gift

There are many ways you can help:

  • Go to one of the donation locations and buy food items to donate. They need items like rice, biscuits, cooking oil, instant noodles, condiments, beverages and canned food (halal). You can also adopt wishes at some of the locations. The operating period is until 17 December 2014, 11.00 am to 9.00 pm daily.
  • Those unable to make a trip down to a donation location or who are overseas can make an online donation of food and household hampers valued at $30 or $50.
  • If you drive and have a vehicle, you can volunteer to deliver food hampers.
  • Already actively involved? Tell your friends and family about BB Share-A-Gift and get them involved as well! Like their Facebook page to be kept updated about the items they need.
picking out halal canned food

picking out halal canned food

passing our items to the Boys

passing our items to the Boys

We have completed one round of donating food items and will be delivering food hampers on Saturday. Do join us in helping the beneficiaries of BB Share-A-Gift!