Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

For some reasons, kids – perhaps all kids – loveeee bags and boxes, don’t they?

Especially cute ones!

They’d put their little treasures in them. Little notebooks. Coloured pencils. Snacks. Toy cars.

Anything.

Well now, check out these cute lunch boxes!

(We are still kind of undecided on whether they’ll be used by the kids to store their toys and stuff, or as lunch boxes! Too cute lah! =)

The one in Anya’s hands is Lunch Box Juju Ladybug, by Beatrix NY.

And the one in Vai’s hand is Tin Lunch Box Strong Man, by Blafre.

They’re just sooo cute! =)

And.

Guess what?

We have THREE of these for YOU … thanks to Tinydipity!

*Excited!!*

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Here’s a bit about Tinydipity, in their own words: 

‘Tinydipity is an online store based in Singapore that was born out of the sheer desire to help mums and to give all children better, safer options.

Everything at Tinydipity.com is eco-cool and apparel, certified organic. We scour from cool pockets of the globe, mainly Scandinavia, featuring products that focus on style, design and planet earth. If we don’t see them in Singapore, we bring them in. We aim to debut quirky, unique items to satiate modern savvy mums’ appetite for all things cool yet practical and at the same time, encourage easy actions and responsible lifestyle choices.’

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And, here’s how to enter the giveaway!

1) ‘LIKE’ Our Everyday Things Facebook Page, if you haven’t already done so =)

2) ‘LIKE’ Tinydipity Facebook Page

3) SHARE this giveaway on your Facebook or Twitter

4) Leave us a comment, telling us : Which lunch box you’d like to win (tell us your preferred design too) and why!

(Browse for their available designs HERE!)

And that’s it!

TOO EASY! =)

[Check out their online store for more designs!]

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Note:

> Open to those with Singapore local addresses only

> Giveaway ends on Sunday, 25 November, 11.59pm, SG time.

> The three winners will be selected by the sponsor, and announced next week! Be sure to come back and check this post out for the giveaway results yeah!
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I’m excited to be making three little ones *happier* with these pre-Christmas gifts!!

Hope you enjoy the giveaway, everyone! =)

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ADDED :

Hello everyone!

Thanks for participating in this fun giveaway!

As much as we’d love to give everyone a gift, the sponsor has selected three winners out of all of you who have entered the contest.

Here are the winners:

1) Rebeccarios (Blafre tin lunch box Strong Man)

2) Cindy Tan (Beatrix Dolce n Panna)

3) Amie Chen (Beatrix Dieter Monkey)
CONGRATS!!

Do drop me an email (leonny at oureverydaythings dot com) and let me know your mailing address please? We’ll post the prize to you!

And to everyone, don’t give up! I’ll see you again in the next giveaways yeah!

Regardless of where we live, every country has its pros and cons.

And to me, one of the ‘good’ things about living in Indonesia is : We have greater access to real experiences of culture and nature! 

Not too long ago, Anya and her school friends went on an excursion to ‘Kampoeng Wisata Cinangneng’ in Bogor.

A one-day trip, away from modern and busy city life.

(Which all city children and adults need once in a while, actually)

The trip gave them all a great experience and exposure to nature and the great outdoors (which I truly appreciate!)

Just to give you an idea, these were some of the things they did: 

> Learn to play Angklung & sing a Sundanese song

> Learn to plant rice

> Cross a river

> Wash water buffaloes

> Learn to play Gamelan (a traditional musical instrument)

> Learn to make a traditional drink called ‘jamu’

> Learn to make a puppet from casava leaves

> Paint a farmer’s hat

I didn’t go as it’s a trip meant for just the students.

(Photos were taken by a friend)

BUT, I do hope one of these days we could there on our own though.

(Because I secretly want to know what washing water buffaloes is like! Haha)

It’ll be fun!

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Kampong Wisata Cinangneng

Jalan Babakan Kemang
RT 01 / RW 02
Cihideung Udik, Kecamatan Ciampea
Bogor

Telp: 0251-8621 895

Click HERE to visit their official website for more info!

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Photos on My Phone This Week – Nine shots found on my iPhone this week. Simple moments I wish to remember.

So they introduced this Instagram Web Profile recently.

And what I like about it : I can easily view the photos, as they’re neatly put together on the page.

ie. It makes it easier for us to see the ‘content’ of what I share on Instagram!

Anyway.

If you’re on Instagram, you’re most welcome to follow me too =)

www.instagram.com/leonny_oureverydaythings

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Have a great weekend, everyone!

… better.

I must say, we now live in an era where it’s very common to see people spending more time in front of laptops, computers, smart phones, ipads, and everything else that is … not human.

Where interactions and communications across the social media, text messages and emails are often the preferred choice (compared to real phone calls and face-to-face chats).

Where it’s more and more common to see siblings and family members, sitting side by side, and yet each of them is more engrossed in what they have in their hands than who they are with at that very moment.

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… it is totally okay to NOT know much about the internet, than to NOT know how to smile and play with new friends.

To me, gadgets in themselves are not wrong.

They in fact can be helpful in many ways.

I guess, I just prefer to be on the ‘safer side’ of things, especially when it involves little ones.

(ie. Because I do not wish for my kids to feel ‘awkward’ about ‘connecting’ with their parents, siblings and friends … simply because there’s little time to practice ‘real interactions’)

To me, I prefer to tell my kids that running around and playing with friends is better than sitting still and playing games on the iphone.

That playing and chatting with your siblings is better than sitting side by side in front of the TV for hours and hours a day, every day.

That it is totally okay to NOT know much about the internet, than to NOT know how to smile and play with new friends.

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I guess I just feel that these days, due to the ease and availability of gadgets, there’s this increasing disconnection between people, even between family members. Between parents and children too.

And, I just feel we somehow ought to be aware of this potential danger, and actually ‘do’ something, proactively.

A deliberate effort to … unplug, at times.

For our family sake.

Are you an Indonesian who LOVE to travel?

Or do you know friends who LOVEEEE to travel?

I’d like to share this exciting news with you, and hope you can pass it on to others!

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Together with Telios TV, AsiaRooms is looking for Indonesia’s Social Travel Stars!

TWO travel hosts, basically … who will be flown to different cities (in 3 countries!), to review hotel rooms and places to visit!

Check out this video for more info!

This contest was successfully held in Singapore, and they’ve crowned their two travel hosts!

The winning traveling duo went to different cities across Asia (complete with the video crew), and here’s their video when they went to … Bandung! =D

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I went to their Press Conference the other day, … and boy, I would LOVE to go for this contest myself!

(but of course I couldn’t … unless the organiser allows a still breastfed baby in the video clips hehe)

But anyway, please please please share and SPREAD THIS CONTEST around?

To find out more info:

>> Go to www.telios.tv/asiarooms

>> Follow this hashtag on Twitter #SocialTravelStar

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All you (or they!) need to do is:

– Grab a partner
– Do a video (up to 3 mins)
– Speak in both English and Indonesian
– SUBMIT the video HERE, latest by 22 November!

**EXTENSION: Submit by Sunday, 25 November!!**
Quick!! =D

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The winning two travel hosts will be sponsored to go across 3 countries, including Indonesia of course (which is a GREAT way to share with the world our beautiful cities and places to visit!!), to review hotel rooms and the cities.

*EXCITING!*

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Okay now I share some photos of me with a few others yeah =D

Here’s me with a true blue traveler and dedicated blogger, Dede (check out his blog HERE)

And here’s Shu and Clarence – from AsiaRooms – together with me and Wilson!

All the best, everyone!

And don’t forget to get your audition video ready in time! =D

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Photos on My Phone This Week – Nine shots found on my iPhone this week. Simple moments I wish to remember.

Ever felt heart-broken when you see your children’s unpleasant behaviour?

I know I have.

And now that I have two older ones at home, the frequency of me being in such ‘an emotional state’ is higher.

Compared to when they were all ‘babies’, I mean.

And basically it’s because as children grow, they are increasingly capable of doing more things, including things that they know are … wrong.

They may talk back and refuse to be in the wrong, even when they are wrong.

They may speak rudely to siblings, when they know they’re supposed to be loving.

Or, they may simply … behave in disrespectful ways. To us. The very people who love and care for them every day.

Yes, children are blessings from above. But, they also are sinners, like me.

At times like this, I remind myself of what a friend once shared with me.

That everyone is a sinner. Including children.

And when we deal with sinners, the reality is … we most likely get hurt, one way or another.

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Yes, children are blessings from above.

But, they also are sinners, like me.

And so here’re some reminders that I’d like to share today.

Whenever I feel heart-broken and hurt because of my children’s disrespectful behaviour, I tell myself:

– We are the adult, they are the children. We need to be the mature one and be in control of the situation and most importantly, our own emotion.

– They are still growing up. After all they’ve only lived in this world for …. years, while we have lived decades longer than them. We should know better, NOT feel discouraged and continue to instill positive values to them, even though we have yet to see the ‘fruits’ of our labour.

– Continually work together with our spouse, as a TEAM. Support and respect each other, and teach the children to respect their parents, who is OUR SPOUSE.

– Remember that they too are sinners. They are naturally inclined to do what’s wrong, even when they know it’s wrong. For my case, because I have faith in Christ, I too need to bring my children to Him, as it is only through having a personal relationship with Christ as their Saviour that they too will have the strength to be more in control of their lives and sinful nature.

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May God – who has entrusted these little ones into our care – help me, and all of us, to be better parents every single day.

Have a blessed week ahead, everyone!