I'm a full-time mummy

I have been cutting down on doing product reviews towards the last quarter of year 2016 to prepare for our coming 4th kiddo who was born in early November 2016 and I am now slowly resuming doing product reviews but prioritizing those that can fit into our family dynamics (especially books on parenting or educational stuff, family products, something along those genre)

However, as busy as I am with 4 kiddos, home cooking, taking care of hubby's administration site of the business and swamped up with managing my FB page and blog, I just can't say no to reviewing products that either myself and/or my family can use, what more reviewing a well-known stationery products' brand like Faber-Castell, I would be mad to say no, right?!

About the company/products:

"Faber-Castell is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of high-quality products for writing, drawing and creative design. Founded as a pencil factory in 1761 in Stein, near Nuremberg, today the firm is one of the oldest industrial companies in the world and remains a family-owned business even after more than eight generations of family ownership. Faber-Castell is represented in over 120 countries, with production sites in nine countries and sales companies in 23 countries. Its product range includes more than 2,000 items divided into the areas of “Playing & Learning”, “Art & Graphic”, “Premium”, “General Writing” and “Marking”.

Faber-Castell is delighted to present its latest innovation in colouring tools with the new Watercolour Soft Pastels. The Watercolour Soft Pastels is able to provide different finishing to the users – they are able to use it as it is which gives a silky smooth and pigmented crayon to an oil pastel finishing or add an additional step by lightly brushing it with water to achieve a watercolour effect. There is no sharpening required on the Watercolour Soft Pastels, making it a very convenient colouring tool for school-going children."

We received a box of Faber-Castell Watercolour Soft Pastels with 11 colours which also comes with a paintbrush as well. I breathed a sigh of relief as our older 3 kiddos take turn and not fight over one another to use the Watercolour Soft Pastels. 

To open the Faber-Castell Watercolour Soft Pastels packaging box, you just need to flip open the 2 small tabs on the sides like how you do for briefcases. The watercolour soft pastels are securely placed in a structured case that allows easy packing and carrying about without the fear of the pastels falling out.

The Watercolour Soft Pastels' length is just nice and its size is also just right for children's fingers to grasp on to. You just need to gently turn the top cap clockwise to extend the pastels and continue using it. There's no need to sharpen anything!

I made some photocopies of a printable colouring sheet for them to colour in and get themselves busy. I just told them to go crazy in colouring the paper given and they went on their own creative ways to colour their paper. One studiously coloured within the lines, one tried to blend and mix the colours while one tried to use different methods in colouring.

Results of their first colouring using Faber-Castell Watercolour Soft Pastels:

First one was by our 8-year-old boy, who studiously coloured within the lines and tried to match as close as possible to the objects' colours.

Second one was by our 5.5-year-old girl, who tried to blend and mix the colours and every now and then announces the new colours she created. "Blue and yellow makes GREEN!", "Blue and red makes PURPLE!!!" Whoaa... learning opportunities everywhere!

Last one was by our 3.5-year-old girl, who tried to use different methods in colouring. After her initial colouring, she excitedly took a brush and dipped it into a container of water that I prepared and happily blend in the colours on her paper. 

There are several techniques that you can try with Faber-Castell Watercolour Soft Pastels such as:

• Blending & Watercolour Techniques - where you can easily smudged the colours using fingertips, cotton buds or tissue paper and a touch of water to create a watercolour effect.

• Scratching Technique - where you apply bright vibrant colours as the base and then overlaps it with a darker shade. You can use the tip of a ruler to scratch the dark surface to reveal the colours beneath.

• Water Colour Technique with Mirror Image Effect - where you leave some space where the image is meant to be transferred to and apply the colours on the actual artwork.

  

The Faber-Castell Watercolour Soft Pastels is a wonderful product for children and I'm happy that our kiddos have the opportunity to try out this product.  

Faber-Castell Watercolour Soft Pastels are available at all major bookstores and stationery shops in Malaysia.

Do note that I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the products in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine.

** Note: I have disabled the commenting feature on my blog engine thanks to all the spammers who happily spam my blog every day. If you wish to ask me any questions, you can find me at my Facebook page (I'm there almost every day) or just drop me an email if you wish to maintain some anonymity.

I saw this article and yes, I agree with it. As parents, we are judged in whatever things we do.

"To the mom who's breastfeeding: Way to go! It really is an amazing gift to give your baby, for any amount of time that you can manage! You're a good mom.

To the mom who's formula feeding: Isn't science amazing? To think there was a time when a baby with a mother who couldn't produce enough would suffer, but now? Better living through chemistry! You're a good mom.

To the cloth diapering mom: Fluffy bums are the cutest, and so friendly on the bank account. You're a good mom.

To the disposable diapering mom: Wow those things hold a lot, and it's excellent to not worry about leakage and laundry! You're a good mom.

To the mom who stays home: I can imagine it isn't easy doing what you do, but to spend those precious years with your babies must be amazing. You're a good mom.

To the mom who works: It's wonderful that you're sticking to your career, you're a positive role model for your children in so many ways, it's fantastic. You're a good mom.

To the mom who had to feed her kids from the drive thru all week because you're too worn out to cook or go grocery shopping: You're feeding your kids, and hey, I bet they aren't complaining! Sometimes sanity can indeed be found in a white bag with a big red chick on it. You're a good mom.

To the mom who gave her kids a homecooked breakfast lunch and dinner for the past week: Excellent! Good nutrition is important, and they're learning to enjoy healthy foods at an early age, a boon for the rest of their lives. You're a good mom.

To the mom with the kids who are sitting quietly and using their manners in the fancy restaurant: Kudos, it takes a lot to maintain order with children in a place where they can't run around. You're a good mom.

To the mom with the toddler having a meltdown in the cereal aisle: they always seem to pick the most embarrassing places to lose their minds don't they? We've all been through it. You're a good mom.

To the moms who judge other moms for ANY of the above?

Glass houses, friend. Glass houses."

** Note: I have disabled the commenting feature on my blog engine thanks to all the spammers who happily spam my blog every day. If you wish to ask me any questions, you can find me at my Facebook page (I'm there almost every day) or just drop me an email if you wish to maintain some anonymity.

We recently went to the Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial and had an enjoyable experience there. We were first greeted with the sight of 2 antique cars. Picture below was one of the cars. A black Cadillac if I'm correct.

The entry was free of charge, however there were only a few staff working on the Saturday we were there. The building were cleanly kept and nicely maintained. Only our family of 6 were there throughout most of our time there, which was nice as we get to slowly read and enjoy the exhibits. Here are some of the pictures I snapped during our visit there...

This is the ceremonial attire worn by Tunku for the Merdeka ceremony in 1957. This unique ‘Muscat Dress’ consists of a black taffeta silk open-jacket with epaulettes, a white shirt, pants and headgear. I personally felt that it is like a mixture of tuxedo with our local Malay costume.

Imagine the exhilaration of reading the newspapers announcing your very own country has achieved her independence!

There are pictures and exhibits where you can read out more about Tunku's personal life, his family members, his involvement in the political scene, his passions, his foray into the movie scenes and lots more.

You can also check out his residence and office which was built in 1956 in Jalan Brockman (now known as Jalan Dato Onn). The office building was shifted here - very cool as we thought it was a replica of his office building. A staff was very helpful to explain to us as we walked down the aisle and peeped through to see how the administration would have been like in the past.

Below is the visiting hours for your easier reference. You can also find out more info at http://www.arkib.gov.my/en/web/guest/memorial-tunku-abdul-rahman-putra2.

In summary, it was an enjoyable visit where we get to explain and expose our kiddos to the history of our beloved country, hopefully they will cherish and appreciate the hardwork and sacrifices made by our fellow countrymen towards achieving independence status for our country.

** Note: I have disabled the commenting feature on my blog engine thanks to all the spammers who happily spam my blog every day. If you wish to ask me any questions, you can find me at my Facebook page (I'm there almost every day) or just drop me an email if you wish to maintain some anonymity.