DIY Terrarium for Home Decor

[This is a product review for Floral Garage Singapore. No monetary compensation was made. All opinions expressed here are my own.]

Making a terrarium to enhance the decor of my home has never crossed my mind. Ever. That's because I know I have zilch green thumb and it would be a real pity to put in the effort to plant yet not see it survive. Though I don't deny that a mini table top garden is one of the best ways to add a little greenery to an indoor space especially when most of us are living in apartments in Singapore.

My 16 year old son, Brandon, is quite the complete opposite of me in the greenery department. He recently revealed to me that he loves plants, which caught me by surprise. Well actually, I shouldn't be surprised that much because I know he is a nature and animal lover. When I asked him if he would like to try out making a terrarium, which the kind people at Floral Garage Singapore approached me to try, he was more than happy to give it a go... on my behalf... because... you know why... 

The 'Premium DIY Terrarium Kit' arrived at my doorstep a few days later. I literally wowed to the delivery guy as I was not expecting it to come in such a huge and heavy box. There was a generous assortment of plants, gravels and premium soil mixes supply for our use. (More than enough supply to make 3 or 4 terrariums, me thinks!) This premium kit came with 2 very gorgeous high quality glass bowl/jar, which was the highlight for me. I also super adore the cute miniature gardening tools and spray bottle that came with it! Apart from a pair of scissors, we were good to go with making our terrarium since everything else has been provided for. At this point, I think my excitement meter went up quite a bit. I could not wait for Brandon to complete the terrariums!

Brandon spearheaded this project, while I was just his assistant, handing him the tools and topping up the gravels that he needed as he followed the step by step guide provided in the box. He knew exactly what he needed to do to build the terrariums so I would give this two thumbs up for any beginner.

It took him about 45 minutes to complete both terrariums, one with the open bowl and the other jar with lid. I mentioned earlier that he is a nature lover, so imagine when he said this, "Mum, I feel pain for the plants" while he was pruning the roots! *faint* But well, we did learn that it is a necessary step to trim the long overgrown roots if transferring out from a pot to another, before we nestle the plants so that it can re-establish itself into new soil.

The process of building these terrariums was very therapeutic for Brandon and I am glad that this may be an additional outlet for him to find relaxation from the daily stresses at school. Unfortunately though, the open bowl terrarium did not last us more than 3 days. (!!!) We are not sure what went wrong though we highly suspect it could be the initial over watering due to over enthusiasm or the lack of sunlight or both. On the other hand, I am so pleased to report that the terrarium in the enclosed glass jar is still THRIVING!

Can you see the sloping landscape? We added some larger decorative pebbles of our own to make it look more foresty. Brandon wants to look for tiny decorative pokemons to add into this little garden. Well... until he finds them, I'm happy with what we have in our home now.

The enclosed jar terrarium is truly self-sustaining, since it can provide enough humidity within the enclosure thus creating its own little ecosystem. It requires almost zero attention from us apart from a little weekly water spray job that Brandon has committed himself to do. It's been 4 weeks and it still looks exactly the same as the day it was built. I am really pleased looking at such a lovely little garden in our living room whenever I walk past it. (And pssst, we will be re-working on the open terrarium again soon! We just need to get more plants!)

All in all, I am really glad that we were given the opportunity to experience building terrariums in the heart of our home and at our convenience. I would recommend this to anyone who has no experience with plants to give the enclose jar terrarium a go as it is by far, the easiest to care for.

If you are keen to own a terrarium for your home too, do visit Floral Garage Singapore to see the variety of terrarium categories and DIY kits that they have recently launched. I think these make absolute great gifts for house warming and birthdays for those who probably have everything but a terrarium! While you are checking out the terrariums with them, do also check out the other customized floral gifts and party supply needs. And you know what's the best part? They pride themselves as a social enterprise so it's always good to know you will be indirectly playing a part to help others in need, when you make your purchases from them.

*** Specially For My Readers***

 The friendly folks at Floral Garage Singapore is giving a 10% discount on your checkout!

Discount code : ADE10  

 valid till 31 December 2016

(Terrarium gift idea for Christmas too, perhaps?)

Shop HERE

Till the next post, have a wonderful day!

Absolutely Me,

Engaging a Local Part Time Cleaner Through Helpling!

[I have been invited to review Helpling's cleaning service. This blog post is written based on my own personal experience. No monetary compensation is involved. The content is original and opinions expressed here are 100% my own.]

I have had help with household chores ever since giving birth to my first child more than 14 years ago, from part time cleaners. But it has been close to 4 years since I engaged one, to manage some of the chores in my home. Okay, I admit it - my last engagement was a foreign part time cleaner. She came to clean my home every fortnightly, mostly to take care of my load of ironing. It was through hearsay that the cleaner had a work permit in Singapore, though I never truly probe directly from her, what kind of work pass she was holding to be cleaning homes around our island. I guess back then, I was just heartened when she told me she cleaned houses here so that she could put her child to school in Singapore. It was an honest living and I could relate to her as a mother, wanting the best for her child. Though I now know better that this could have implicated both parties if ever it was discovered to be illegal.

I can also put myself in the shoes of others who are out to work and didn't have live in helpers. Many rely heavily on such part time cleaners too. It would be most unfortunate if the cleaners they have hired are unreliable and do not turn up for their assignment or decide to stop work without prior notice, leaving them in a momentous lurch that can be very trying until another help is found.

"Who can I trust with the chores when I am at work?" 

"How can I spend quality time with the family on weekends if I don't get the chores done?"

"How can I relax with so much housework to catch up on?"

As for me, I was particularly bogged down with the pile of my husband's office shirts in my laundry basket that I cannot seem to finish ironing.  It is the most time consuming job for me when I could have been more fruitful investing that amount of time in my jewelry work. So I was hoping that someone could relieve me of this chore.

When Helpling came along to render their services, I was eager to try it out. Having another go at engaging help from a local part time cleaner this time, is something not very far in my mind since I have been busy with jewelry orders. I prefer this arrangement too as compared to having a live-in helper, so that we can all enjoy our privacy.

The post weekend mess in my living room before cleaning versus the tidied version on the right.  I love squeaky clean floors!

What is Helpling?

Helpling is an online platform service connecting us with insured and trusted local cleaners from their pool of independent cleaners. Helpling hails from Germany and launched their services in Singapore earlier this year, their very first Asia's platform. 

What are the charges like?

The fees start from S$18 an hour for a weekly or bi-weekly basic cleaning service, which includes dusting/wiping visible spaces, vacuuming and mopping of floor, washing the bathrooms, clearing the trash. The number of work hours depend highly on the size of your apartment. Additional services like ironing or cleaning windows are chargeable add ons. For a detailed price list with no hidden costs, please refer to this LINK.  

What I appreciate about this service is that there is no binding contract to adhere to. As long as you need someone to help with cleaning, they will have someone (whom you can entirely trust) hired at your preferred day and time. They also accept one-off cleaning services and best of all, if you are comfortable with a cleaner you have met, you can request for the same cleaner for recurring service!

My Experience with the Helpling Cleaner Assigned to Me

Emma was assigned to clean my home the other day. The first thing that I was appreciative of was her punctuality and unfazed attitude toward our pet dog, which was cordoned off in our service balcony while she cleaned, since I respect that she is a Muslim and may not be comfortable with a dog around. That's professionalism!

After a short chat with her (so that we can be a little bit acquainted), I left her to decide what she would like to work on first. By the way, she was engaged to take on a 3 hour cleaning in my 5 room flat plus a 1 hour ironing add on service.

I like that she is a fast and agile worker (and clearly enjoying her work with the music that I put on the background). She also moves around like stealth while I worked on my jewelry orders at the dining table, leaving me with the private space that I needed. She started off ironing the clothes for slightly more than hour before stopping to work on cleaning the living room, 3 bedrooms, vacuuming, mopping the floor and washing the bathrooms. She was done in 2.5 hours. With the remaining half an hour more before her scheduled time ended, she took the initiative to continue ironing the clothes again. In a total of 1.5 hours, she managed to iron 10 cotton shirts whereas I would usually take 18-20 minutes to iron one! *faint* So yes, I reiterate, this part is my greatest help of all!

The cleaning package does not include changing of bed sheets but I appreciate that she bothered to make my bed so nicely, as with the kids' beds too!

Before she left my home, she asked me to check to see if everything was in place and that if I am satisfied with her cleaning. I have no doubt with her honesty and ability, even though this was the first time I met her. I especially appreciate the flexibility that she has exercised on this cleaning assignment. She certainly takes pride in her job.

Judging from my earlier conversation with her, she was totally unaware of this blog engagement to review Helpling's services. So everything that I have experienced with her work style is true to the standard that Helpling has committed to provide to their customers. Kudos to Emma for a job well done! (I would have liked to take a photo of her working in my home, but I thought that I should respect her privacy as well.)

My favorite TV console area with precious family moments, all dust and clutter free!

It sounds like a fantastic job done! How do I book a service?

Just head on to this LINK, book a date and a trusted cleaner will be assigned to your home! Or you can book through their latest phone app - search for 'Helpling'. You only pay securely online via credit card, after the cleaning is complete. For more information on booking, visit this LINK

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Try Helpling today and receive S$20 voucher!

Readers and friends of my blog will be happy to know that they can enjoy the first hour off, worth S$20, at your first cleaning! Book and receive your voucher HERE

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Till the next post, have a wonderful day!

[Product Review] Dyson Cool Air Multiplier Bladeless Fan AM08.

The weather, of late, has been very unkind. To be constantly surrounded by the hot and stagnant air is a terrible feeling, especially when we are at home. Even though we have a ceiling fan in our living room and standing fans in every bedroom in our apartment, it does not really improve the air flow quality. 

It was extremely timely for the good people at Dyson to invite me to review their bladeless pedestal fan, model AM08, just when we were thinking of upgrading to a better quality fan for our study room. This is probably the only room where we spend our afternoons together during the weekend and use our computers concurrently. I have seen and ogled at Dyson's bladeless fans at the electronics store for a long while now and it still amazes me how a bladeless fan works to deliver cool wind. A window fan without any blades is certainly the most eye-catching and interesting invention!

Assembly Of Fan

Assembling a fan should always be a simple and straightforward experience. The setting up for AM08 only consisted of  aligning the parts with arrows indicated, then "clicking" them together - the base and the loop amplifier. It didn't take us more than 10 minutes to get the fan ready to supplement our very humid home with a smooth flow of cool breeze.

Need For Speed

The average pedestal fan has limited speed settings - usually low, medium and high. The Dyson AM08 has an impressive 10 precise airflow settings!  I am pleased that we can each find a suitable fan speed to suit our preference at different times of the day.

Image captured from Dyson's website.

Here's A Little Bit Of The Technical Stuff

The Dyson bladeless fan is now 35% quieter, with streamlined airflow system. The Air Multiplier technology allows air to accelerate through an annular aperture, drawing in surrounding air to project smooth, powerful, high-velocity airflow. No blades = No choppy air.

And there it is - the very handsome Dyson pedestal fan that has found a permanent place in our study room!

Image captured from Dyson's website to show it's oscillation and tilt feature.

As you can see from our seating arrangement, you would probably be able to imagine how the previous sharing of a traditional tower fan could not serve our individual needs to keep us cool due to the limited oscillation feature. However, the Dyson's AM08 has proven to be able to channel powerful streamlined air which delivers a decent amount of wind to each of us. Better yet, this technology produces 15% less energy consumption which will definitely be kinder to our monthly electrical bill. We may not see it now but in the long run, I'm looking forward to the significant savings.

I have also heard and read about Dyson fans being rather noisy so I had to hear it for myself. In all fairness, anyone should be able to figure that the higher the speed of any kind of fan, the more power is needed to deliver the wind, hence some 'noise' will be generated. I tested the highest speed at level 10 and listened but it is nothing like any noise a traditional fan would make. In fact, the current generation of Dyson's fans are apparently up to 75% quieter across their fan range, compared to those made before. In any case, it doesn't affect us at all.

What I Like Best

Perhaps one of the most incredible feature of this fan would be it's safety feature - the absolute non-danger of someone sticking their hands into the fan. Cleaning has also been a breeze! (pun intended) Just a quick swipe along the exposed surface with a cloth or a duster would suffice. Where have you been all my life?

Our Family's Verdict : 9/10

It is a great fan and proven to be the best one we've ever known, own and enjoying - although the price tag is much steeper than others which can be the main setback when making a decision to purchase a fan. The simple, sleek and modern design will look great and fit into any part of the home and the bladeless design helps move the air around effectively. It is safe and easy to maintain - which is my personal plus point. Buyers should consider the quality and efficiency of this fan that can be hard to beat.

 

Dyson products are available at major retail electronics store.

 

Till the next post, have a blessed week!

Disclaimer : The Accidental Mom Blogger was given the Dyson Cool pedestal fan, AM08 model, to be tested and reviewed. All opinions stated in this post are 100% my own.

[Product Review] Dr Lily's Aloe Vera Gel + Giveaway!

I was introduced to Dr Lily's Aloe Vera Gel by a friend of mine. I specifically remember her telling me, that it is the most natural multi-purpose gel that is ever made - "we can even use it to soothe mouth ulcers!" I was sold. Who wouldn't like something that is natural, work in most ways imaginable and is not chemically laden? 2 years down the road and several tubes of Dr Lily's Aloe Vera Gel later, I am still a loyal customer.

Since childhood, I have had bouts of eczema (inflammatory of the skin) breakout and frequent rashes, especially when the weather changes drastically to hot and humid during mid-year. So there was no surprise that I recently had a rash outbreak on my left leg.

If you are familiar with topical skin conditions like these, you will probably know how badly it itches and  the itch intensifies when you are asleep. Previously, before I got to know about Dr Lily's Aloe Vera Gel, I have had steroid creams applied, prescribed from the doctors. Although it helped to contain the itch very quickly, I've realized it left my skin drier and left scars in the aftermath. It also didn't help that I have sensitive skin so an overdose of steroid cream application sometimes led to an outbreak of a different set of rashes. I was miserable.

When I started on Dr Lily's Aloe Vera Gel application in replacement of the steroid cream, the immediate soothe it rendered on my broken skin, due to scratching, was really comforting. I specially like how it absorbs into my skin quickly without the sticky residue. Knowing that it is all natural, I was not afraid to apply as and when I needed to.

Here are some photos I took of the healing process, after application of the gel on affected areas.

The Only Multi-Purpose Gel My Family Needs

I cannot emphasize enough how much Dr Lily's Aloe Vera Gel has made life very easy for me when we go for outings (park, zoo etc) and family vacations. It's the only effective gel that works in multiple ways : for first aid purposes (cuts, abrasions, insect bites, blisters), soothes inflammation of the skin (itch, sun burn, pimples) and we also use it as moisturizer so there's really no need to pack more than necessary!

You can read up more about Dr Lily's Aloe Vera Gel at the official site and see what else this amazing gel can do for you here.

***************************************************************************************

Keen to try out Dr Lily's Aloe Vera Gel? Here's a very special giveaway for one lucky reader! 

WIN a 100ml Dr Lily's aloe vera gel (worth $19.00) + a special package of 3 mini jars with Dr Lily's aloe vera gel and random essential oil + a Dr Lily's recycle bag

All you need to do is :

1) Like my facebook page, if you haven't already done so :  https://www.facebook.com/AccidentalMomBlogger
2) Like & Share Dr Lily's facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DrLilysUSA WITH this blog post link giveaway in your facebook timeline.
3) Leave a comment on this post with your name and email address as indication to the above steps being made.

GIVEAWAY ENDED ON 28th JULY 2014. 

The winner will be announced on my facebook page and contacted via email. We reserve the right to contact the next person on the random list if no response come through to accept the giveaway, within 24 hours after the email is sent.
*Giveaway items will be sent directly from the office of Dr Lily's Aloe Vera Gel *

Congratulations Linda Wong! Your name has been picked as the winner of this giveaway!

 Can't wait to get your hands on this wonder gel already?

You can also place an order right now to friends@drlilys.com, quote "Accidental Mom Blogger" to enjoy 15% discount off your total amount.  Hurry! This discount is valid for one month from date of this blog post.

*Note : There will be a $5 non-discounted flat rate courier fee, regardless of the quantity you purchase.

  Till the next post, have a blessed week!

Disclaimer : The Accidental Mom Blogger received the said product as a token of appreciation and agreed to this review based on a prior positive personal experience with Dr Lily's Aloe Vera Gel. The content and photos shared here are true and best to my knowledge.

2013 - A Year of Gratitude

As I get older, I am more mindful of the little things in life that truly matters to me. One of the most essential to "living life to the fullest", is choosing (as much as I can) to stay positive and think of the happy moments instead of focusing on the negative ones. I've always believed that happy thoughts generate happy cells in one's body. Sicknesses are somehow kept at bay and happy vibes infects people around you too. Happiness is truly not something you can place a price tag on.

Looking back at 2013, there are many little things I am grateful for that made my year a memorable one.

• Watching my 13 year old son gain some independence after starting secondary school. I can now run my necessary errands and leave him to come home on his own and settle his own meals. It is a little load off my mind.
• My husband and I celebrated 16 years of marriage. Though we've never celebrated it in any fanciful or romantic way, I am happier that he takes the time to plan and take the family for a few short getaways this year. Vacation time with the family often means a lot more to me than one candle light dinner.
• Reminding myself why I love what I do - keeping my lifestyle jewelries creations affordable. It's really not about the money, money, money! It's the passion that keeps what I do, alive.
• I had my first makeover! Well only on the face but there was much to learn from the session hosted by Florinda. It was a fantastic time spent with women I know!
• I never thought there will be a day that I will gather ingredients and prepare an oreo mud pie! If not for my little girl's request, I don't think I would. I hope she realizes that the little things I do for her is out of love.
• Now, if you know me, I am TOTALLY NOT a night owl. But for a late night date with my hubby, I did it. We went for an extraordinary date to Senoko Fishery Port!
• The kids and I also made out debut on TV for a programme interview on why I blog. Even though the airtime was very short, it was the experience that mattered.

As we usher in 2014 in a few hours, I pray for peace, health and happiness to continue to reign within the family. And a special wish to all my readers for the same blessings for your families too.

Cheers to 2014!

 

  Till the next post, have a blessed week!

[Recipe] Oven Baked Wings Oriental Style

This is my lazy day dish... oops and you probably think I spend HOURS in the kitchen most of the time.  But then again, I am entitled to my lazy days. No matter what, home cooked food is still the best, right? What makes it even better is when it is so loved by my children!

Serves 4.  Preparation time : 5 mins  Cooking time : 20 mins

Ingredients :

Approx.18 mid-joint wings

1 tbsp sesame oil

2.5 tbsp oyster sauce

1 tsp 5 spice powder

1 tsp black soy sauce

pepper (optional)

Method :

- place the chicken in a zip lock bag and marinade with all the ingredients. Leave it in the fridge for at least 2 hours for the flavors to immense into the meat.

- When ready to bake, pre-heat oven to 170 degrees celcius.

- Place the chicken in a single layer on your baking tray. Pour any balance marinade on top of the chicken.

- Put in oven to bake for 15-20 mins.

- Serve hot and enjoy!

    Till the next post, have a blessed week!

Linking up with :

Great Kitchen Tips For Moms, By Moms.

Even though I've been a stay-at-home-mom for slightly more than a decade now, it doesn't mean that I know the keys to all solutions at home. As I was eagerly looking out for ways to help myself solve some household matters recently, I thought it would be good to put down in writing the few good worthy tips I use and share them with my readers!

The White Eraser Sponge

One of my favorite finds to use in my kitchen is the white color eraser sponge, easily available at Daiso. It helps to clean off dirt stains on my white kitchen table top, my stained walls and also keeping my children's white PVC school shoes dirt free. (In fact, it is probably the reason why I don't buy canvas school shoes to save myself from scrubbing them!)

Rid Bad Odor in Fridge
 
Recently, I had a major issue with an odor in the fridge. Didn't know where it came from, even though I cleaned my fridge thoroughly with fresh lemon and made sure that any expired food is thrown out. So I tried the usual method of placing a plate of baking soda in the fridge, as well as placing fresh teabags on each shelves (as used by Cindy) since they are effectively known to absorb bad smell.  But I guess the odor in my fridge was a stubborn one!

Desperate, and in much scepticism, I decided to use my prized possession : vanilla extract.  Soak up the extract with a cotton ball and leave it in the fridge. Overnight, the odor mysteriously disappeared and the fridge now has a lingering vanilla scent to it! mmm!

Keep The Chicken Bones!

Oh! And the next time you roast a chicken, don't discard em' bones! Freeze it and use it when you next boil your soups. It accentuates the flavor of your soup with the extra oomph!

For the benefit of all, I've garnered and compiled more useful kitchen tips from my mom blogger friends from Singapore Mom Bloggers! These tips have been a great help to them and may come in handy for you some day. In a nutshell, it either saves you time or money! I'm already starting to take in many tips from here. And yes, some so simple yet simply overlooked in my kitchen. 

Thanks ladies, for your kind contribution!

 Do you have more tips to share from your kitchen or household that works brilliantly for you? Please feel free to leave them in the comment box because am pretty sure we will all refer to it!  

Till the next post, have a blessed week!

[Recipe] Ondeh Ondeh

  I learned this recipe from my mother - I am so glad that helping her out to cook before I got married did help prepare my current role in the kitchen!
Before I continue with the recipe, I need to mention that this was made purely based on agaration (moderation of ingredients without specific measurements) more than anything else. What you really need are 2 important senses to make this kueh - touch and sight.
INGREDIENTS

- Glutinous rice flour (approx. 1/2 cup) - 1/2 a medium sized sweet potato (boiled till soften and mashed) - pandan flavoring (optional) - gula melaka (palm sugar) - desiccated coconut (bought in supermarket) or fresh grated coconut if available - water to mix the paste to form dough    This recipe makes about 18 pieces of ondeh ondeh.   The reason for the sweet potato to be mixed into the flour is so that the texture of the ondeh ondeh will be soft and less chewy. You can also choose to use just the flour alone however, the texture will be tough and very chewy which is not what it is supposed to achieve in the kueh.

  Prepare the gula melaka filling by scraping it thinly with a knife and leave aside.   MAKING THE DOUGH  

  This is the part where you need to use your sense of touch and sight I mentioned earlier.
Mix the mashed sweet potatoes and flour together, adding water a little at a time until you can feel that the texture is smooth and the dough no longer sticks to your fingers. If the texture is too wet, it becomes sticky so you would need to add in more flour at your discretion.There is also a similar instruction about making the dough in the flour manufacturer's packaging.
Add the pandan flavoring and mix well into the dough. This coloring is optional because if you notice, there are some kueh shops that use the color of the sweet potato for ondeh ondeh. But green is an exciting color so I put it in mine. :p
When the dough is ready, you can start boiling water in your pan. 
SHAPING THE ONDEH ONDEH
Form a ball shape and make a depression in the middle so that you can fill the gula melaka in it. Not too much so the dough doesn't tear during the cooking process. Do be gentle when you pinch the edges to secure the filling. Roll gently to shape into a ball. Repeat the process for the rest of the dough before putting them into the boiling water to be cooked. Gently move them around in the water once in a while.  It takes about 10-15 minutes to be ready.

 

In between waiting, prepare the desiccated coconut into a plate. I like to mix a tiny sprinkle of salt in the coconut to give the bite a little punch as the coconut is tasteless. But this is optional.

THE FINAL PRODUCT
Once the ondeh ondeh is cooked, gently scoop them out with water drained, roll them in the coconut and it is ready to be served!

Tip on buying gula melaka  
It is tricky to get good grade gula melaka these days. There are many kinds out there that is just brown sugar and not palm sugar. I've tried a few and so far, this one that I bought from Giant tastes good! NTUC also carries this brand.

  Till the next post, have a blessed week!