Launch of Intercontinental Planet Trekkers Menu

Some weeks ago, we had the opportunity to attend a dinner party hosted by Intercontinental hotel, for the roll out of its Planet Trekkers menu. A very comprehensive menu, from small plates to desserts, specially designed for children. It was co-created by child food experts, Michelin-starred chef, Theo Randall, and nutritionist, Annabel Karmel. Oh yes, I read her books and love her recipes!

It was our privilege to get the first taste of its menu on its launch party. Where the kids were overwhelmingly entertained by balloonist, magician and of course, a well selected spread of dishes, from appetizers to desserts. Definitely the best children's menu we've ever seen and tasted. Delicious and nutritious, what more can parents ask for?!!

Fun menu created!

The menu has a wide selection of food choices, from Asian to western. I'm assured that all little guests will find something they love. 

Top, Left to right: Smiley tomato soup, Spaghetti bolognese with hide and seek veggies, Ice watermelon popsicles. Middle, left to right: Crunchy Veggies and hummus dip, Wok and roll pad Thai, Chocolate brownie ice cream sundae. Bottom, left to right: Yummy mini Burgers, Chinese fried rice with chicken, Lychee Frogrut

I don't mean to get you hungry, but they really are yummilicious as the pictures reveal. My personal favourite was, Everything! Ok, focus, the burger and pad thai were the more outstanding. I spoke to chef Randall that day. As a Mum, I was concern about processed food, so I asked about the beef patty between those burger buns. I'm glad they were made from scratch, with minced beef. We topped off our tastes with, the not to be missed, desserts! Watermelon popsicle was a hit for all big and little ones, and the Lychee frogrut is totally out of the World! I love! I would prefer giving the kids yoghurt over ice cream.

Enjoying her Pad Thai

He loves the tomato soup

 

We had multiple helpings to the popsicle

This whole new menu created for the little guests, is available at InterContenetal hotels and resorts throughout south east Asia, and available globally by end of this month. Another child friendly option for our travelling accommodation. How about something from the kids' menu, for room service?

Some crazy fun we had at the party

It was a great, yummy party created for all the wonderful little people!


Disclaimer: We had the opportunity to attend this dinner party launch. All opinions and pictures are solely our own. 

Good and Bad apples

We believe very much in values and character beyond academics. With a little idea about raising kids in relation to growing trees, and reaping good or bad fruits, I did a quick lesson on the good and bad apples we can reap from growing a kind and bad tree.

I drew 2 huge trees on papers, and did red apples cutouts with the following good and bad values written on it:

• Dishonest
• Honest
• Respectful
• Disrespectful
• Kind
• Mean
• Patient
• Impatient
• Obedient
• Disobedient
• Humble
• Proud
• Courteous
• Rude
• Liar
• Hitting
• Self-control
• Trustable
• Unrealiable
• Diligent
• Lazy

Growing our apple trees!

Had Js to sort and paste the apples into the respective tree. Kind tree bears juicy good fruits and bad tree bears bad fruits. As they go along, we talked about each word, and how we should or should not bring good and bad acts of out it. As well as, to always remember using kind and encouraging words. 

Sorting in progress

After they completed their tasks, they picked the tree that they want to be! The good kind tree. Phew!

The kind people and kind tree

And I shared that a kind tree attracts beautiful things. Just like how a kind person attracts the wonderful things and people around him, looking great on the inward and outward!

Beautiful garden

They then added rainbows, birds, flowers and grass to make up the beautiful things around that good kind tree. It became a beautiful garden.

We had it up in their room as a reminder of the good values to practice and bad values to dump out.

Homeschooling kids aren't weird

For the past 8 months, since our final months in the states till this day, I've been keeping the kids 24/7 with me. I withdrew them from school since November last year. So yes, I am homeschooling them! Jare should rightfully be in N1 and Jazz in K1. I get raised eyebrows and interrogated curious questions whenever I proclaim, the kids don't go to school. And it's not like they should be in the mainstream primary school, where schooling is compulsory.

The common questions or comments I get these days, from family (yes, even my parents), relatives, friends and even strangers are, "Aren't they in school?" "K1? Gotta go school!" Or when we're out playing on a weekday, strangers would chat up "No school today?" 

So hmm, I'm not much of a small chat person or when I don't feel the need to bring anyone through my personal decision, I'll just brush questions off with very simple replies. After all, a Mum knows her battles best. She knows what's best for the family, to work or not to work, to homeschool or not. We don't need to shed much light on justifying ourselves.

I don't think I'll be in a prolonged situation of homeschooling Js, sharing the load of bringing some bread and butter home is in my plan. Just that I'm caught in a situation of having little toddlers at home, childcare is our only option if I plan to work. Since I've not caught up with a job, it's only prudent that I keep them with me. While job hunt goes slow, I take my everyday opportunity to teach and guide Js.

I may not have the professional resources to teach Js, but I don't think I'm in total lack of ideas. There are tons of books and ideas in the bookstores and even online resources to aid my teaching. Along these months, I witnessed the kids' milestones, know close to heart their academic, mental and physical progresses. Academics and character building have been our very zoomed in areas. Academics fill our weekday morning schedule. We work on assessment books, readings, experiments and sometimes arty crafts. In our afternoon time, Js are free to play, with some days on board games, crafts, TV or even back to academics. Challengingly, both Js decided to give up their nap some time last year. Leaving me a more comprehensive schedule with them. I am constantly in search of ideas to keep them occupied. No home work is done on our excursion days, where we bring learning and playing out of the home settings. 

Free play with their toys

Free time for reading

I wouldn't know how well Js fair among their peers, but I know all about teaching and learning at their pace. I try not to get panicky when Js don't get the simple things right. It's my longest project ever to get Jare put on his clothes fuss free and almost perfectly. I understand they sometimes lack that effective learning in groups, or maybe an ineffective educator. We try our best to make learning fun and effective. After all, patient is one fine quality we can posses when it comes to successful teaching. I'm glad that I can tailor my teaching to their individual need and progress.

Social skill isn't a total neglect. Js pick up social interactions when we hang around with our friends' kids. We love doing play dates! Whenever we're out playing with other kids, we observe how they respond during play. Do they wait or push for their turn? Do they apologize for faults? Do they play nice? I confess to having that tad worry about how they respond in social situations.

Homeschool kids aren't short changed. It's lots of work hard and play hard too. Yes, lots of frustrations for us, but we make up with frequent hugs and kisses, any time of the day. The best part about being home with them and working away from home is, I can get my cuddles and kisses anytime of the day! 

A Mum plans her battles well, if she doesn't think homeschooling is her highly developed trait, she wouldn't. Preschools are readily available. In our culture today, homeschooling mums are uncommon and it isn't an easy route to ride on. Homeschooling requires huge responsibility, I feel sorry for Js if they are stuck home with me everyday, playing aimlessly and doing nothing purposeful or fruitful. It's my Motherly duty that they are taught and engaged meaningfully. It's very much about discipline and consistency, though I have lazy days too.

That's our completion! A little of a tiger mum.

Stay at home Mums and homeschool mums may encompass different elements. I can be a stay home mum, but I've school going children. Academic is outsourced. It's a different perspective being a SAHM, working in the homeschool department. Nope, we aren't weird, so are our kids. For now, I shoulder that 2 titles. Breathing in, breathing out... everyday is a surprise.