CRAFTY | My DIY Barbie Closet

The Daughter has started playing with Barbie dolls and as a consequence, has started bugging me for clothes and accessories for her little friends.

Now any parent of a little girl knows how ridiculously expensive Barbie doll clothes are.  In fact, a simple dress and shoe set can cost as much as the Daughter's own set of clothes!

I don't blame the Daughter, though, as as a kid, it was one of the things I myself enjoyed playing with (The only difference was I was lucky that an aunt gifted me with a box full of Barbie doll clothes, shoes and accessories for Christmas, hence the Parentals didn't need to buy me some.  😁)

We've not bought the Daughter any brand new Barbie clothes from Mattel yet.  We've been trying to avoid doing so as much as possible.  So instead, we source their clothes from:

1. local online sellers selling 2nd hand Barbie clothes (great as they are original Mattel and will only require a bit of washing if dirty),
2. sourced directly from a China factory (which we did buy from only once and I swear, will never buy from ever again.  They are cheap but utter rubbish; majority did not even last us a day's play!),
3. from a S$2 Japanese lifestyle store called Tokutokuya, (cheap and extremely durable), and
4. if time permits, I DIY.

Doll clothes from Tokutokuya

CRAFTY | Slyvanian Family Decor on the Cheap

The Husband, on the belief that every little girl would love to own a doll house of her very own and acting on the stories I've told him from when I was younger (hint: I've never had one 😁), saw a Sylvanian Families Cosy Cottage Starter Home set on sale and bought one for the Daughter when she was 2.

CRAFTY | The Daughter's S$2 Art Caddy

I read a parenting article way back stating that kids should have easy access to their art supplies so when inspiration hits, they can just as easily reach out and create.  I believe every little child has this creativity bug in them.  The Daughter herself loves doing crafts.  She doodles, cuts, paints, etc.

Whereas before, her art supplies were all placed inside her closets, we decided now was a good time to have it out in the open.  So off I went to Daiso and bought this -- a plastic remote control holder.

SG | Daiso Haul (July 2017)

Time for another Daiso haul post!  😍

CRAFTY | DIY Barbie Handbag

The Daughter has started playing with Barbies and as can be expected, has been asking for clothes and accessories for her dolls.  Unfortunately, these things cost too much and I'm not really too gung-ho on spending too much for them.  Heck!  A set can cost as much as the Daughter's own shirt!

So what's a mom do?  DIY, of course!

SG | Daiso Haul (June 2017)!

As evidenced by previous posts, I love shopping in Daiso!  S$2 (approx Php68), they offer great savings and can definitely help stretch your dollar.  And considering how expensive it is in Singapore, every time the shopping bug bites me, an hour at Daiso is all the remedy I need.  😃

So in this post,  I want to showcase my Daiso haul!

FAB FIND: Lite Brix

Like a lot of kiddoes, the Little Girl loves playing with Legos.  And although, she is isn't a Master Builder, she does so enjoy building and playing with those Disney Princess and Lego Friends sets (such an evil marketing ploy!!!).

We have since stopped adding on to her collection and vowed never to buy her another one (Lego or anything remotely similar again).  But when we stumbled upon this Lite Brix set, we just couldn't resist.
 

Lite Brix

FAB FIND: Fidget Cube

I fidget a lot; helps me think.  Problem is I don't like fidgeting with my fingers.  It has to be with something -- a pen, my ID holder, etc.  It's more than enough to keep me occupied while walking, in a meeting, or any place else I find myself thinking.

And while these everyday mundane items are more than enough to meet my fidgeting needs, I crave variety.  Good thing the Fidget Cube was invented!

Fidget Cube

FAB FIND: Daiso Japan's Strong Cyanoacrylate Adhesive

It is my belief (well, in my opinion anyway) that every home should always have some type of strong glue in their arsenal of repair tools.  They are absolutely fantastic pieces of equipment.  Doesn't cost too much and is useful for simple repairs.

But the gripe I have with most super glue brands is how watery it is.  Using it on paper is a chore (what with the paper absorbing the glue and all).  Worse off, it tends to run everywhere (because of its texture)!

Now 3M's Super Glue Gel (blogged about it before) is not as runny and is much more effective in spot binding pieces.  But for a cheaper (but still effective) alternative, I use Daiso Japan's Strong Cyanoacrylate Adhesive.

Daiso Japan's Strong Cyanoacrylate Adhesive

FAB FIND: Kokuyo's Harinacs (The Staple-free Stapler‎)

Ok.  I know the title may be a bit confusing.  But allow me to explain.

Stapler's use (staple) wires to stick paper together.  A life saver for adults, but staple wire and kids make a really bad combo.  Enter Kokuyo's Harinacs - the staple-free stapler‎.

Kokuyo's Harinacs (The Staple-free Stapler‎)

CRAFTY: Daiso Magnetic Paper Dolls

I remember playing with paper dolls growing up.  I'd spend hours changing their outfits, bringing loads of fun for periods at a time.

Now the Daughter has also gotten into the habit of playing with paper dolls.  The thing is, her generation also gets to enjoy them in sticker play set form.  It's easier though, but based on our experience, once you stick it on the background scenes, it's no longer reusable.  What a waste!

So what's a mom to do?  Make magnetic paper dolls, of course!

Materials needed.

SG | Tokutokuya: The Best Store Evah (Too)!

People who know me are aware how much I love shopping in Daiso.  The products are cheap (S$2 or approx Php66) and you never know what you'll find.  I guess the best way to describe the shopping experience is "you go in and come out with something you never even knew you couldn't live without."

But apparently, Daiso is not just the only store of its kind in Japan.  There's also Tokutokuya.

SOURCE: Tokutokuya Singapore facebook page

Zen Pencils by Gavin Aung Than

2015 found me sorely ignoring my bibliophilistic tendencies.  I've experienced dry months before, where I find myself not wanting to pick up a book, but 3 months is usually my max.  A year?  Unheard of.  Until 2015, that is.

What I did find myself craving for is a return to simpler times.  Admittedly, the big move (again) to Singapore drained me -- both physically and emotionally.  Missing family, taking care of my own little brood, and adjusting to everyday life (including work) in another country took a toll on me.

I find that one of the ways I could cope was to start doing things I enjoyed doing when I was younger.  And nothing more exemplified my childhood than hours spent with a good stack of Archie and Harvey comics (which I have my one of my titos, who was an avid collector, to thank for).  And so, that was where I reverted back to. 

Waiting for someone?  Read a comic.  In the MRT on the way to work?  Run through a few pages before my stop.  Archie and Harvey comics are an easy read, requires no heavy mental effort to appreciate, and was always a surefire way to perk me up (even until now that I am in my 30s).

But man does not live on these comics alone.  And eventually I did have moments when my favorite comic characters were not able to lighten my mood.  So on one particularly bored night, I came across a review about Zen Pencils.

Zen Pencils by Gavin Aung Than (SOURCE: http://zenpencils.com/)

FAB FIND: Pilot FRIXION Pen

Love, love, love finding new, awesome stuff!  Like this nifty Pilot FIXION pen.

Pilot Fixion pen

Fab Find: Daiso's Liquid Label Remover

Aahhh... Daiso.  My wonderful wasteland of every thing.  Period.  You go in and come out with something you've never imagined you needed!  Amazing!

One of the best things about living here in Singapore is that Daiso stores are humongous, offering a lot more merchandise than what you can normally see in any of their branches in the Philippines. 

My newest find?  Their Liquid Label Remover!

Daiso's Liquid Label Remover

Why am I hooked?

MagicScan: The Portable Wand Scanner

Hello!  It's been a while...

MagicScan

I Wonder What Heaven Would be Like...

Like everyone else, our family too, have not been immune to the experienced of losing loved ones so dear (who is, anyway).  Having a few years back (2010 to be exact) lost both an aunt and a grandma, we are recovering but still feeling the effects.  

I read somewhere that the pain of this type of loss never goes away, but does, instead dull itself over time.  It still has not stop, in fact, from deeply unnerving us as to mortality and what image and memories we leave to our loved ones when we are gone.

© 2008 Hartwig HKD, Flickr | CC-BY-ND | via Wylio

The Nostalgia Machine

I'm not exactly sure but I've been having bad cases of nostalgia for the past days now.  Be it TV shows or products I loved when I was younger -- it just washes over me in huge waves.

I think you would all agree that the easiest way to enjoy a nice dose of nostalgic musings from your yesteryear would be listening to old songs.  Pop, rock, rnb, funk -- whatever keeps you grooving. 

YouTube makes it easier to search for those goodies; but for those who want to browse by year these songs hit the airwaves, there's The Nostalgia Machine.

http://thenostalgiamachine.com/

PH | Easy To Learn (ETL) Books: This Mommy’s Best Friend

I started reading to the Little One when she was but 3 months old.  It started off with the Pat the Bunny Sleepy Bunny book.  Later on, we progressed to picture books (aside from continuing simple story ones).  And now she is enjoying full story books. 

It’s a good activity that I always recommend to all parents as I believe this helps little ones appreciate books more if you start them off early.  And I’ve been seeing the results, too.  She now knows all her letters and basic mathematics plus knows simple words by sight.  So happy!  J

But now that the Little One is a 2-year-old toddler, she has already developed her own story preferences.  Whereas before, it was so simple to just pick a book that will catch her attention (bright pictures being the top priority), now she won’t listen to a story unless it’s something she really likes.

For now, she’s absolutely in love with Dora the Explorer.  And as much as I would love buying her a new book at least once a week, budget permits me to be that extravagant.  Thank heavens, though, for Easy To Learn (ETL) books.

The Little One's ETL book collection

Let's Make It a More Meaningful Christmas

NOTE:  Hey! Hey!  Finally will be starting on my Philippine-based posts again!  But sit back and relax, will be writing about Singapore post-able topics again soon...  J

Hay.... Iba talaga ang Pasko sa 'Pinas; as many a hardened OFW has uttered.  It's really such a relief to spend the holidays here, surrounded with loved ones and all the familiar things that bring us comfort.

Giving...