Product Review - Tupperware TwinkleTup

~ Posted on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 1:15 PM ~

How often you get to review products from a leading household brand? And their latest range of products too! I received an email pitch asking whether I would be interested to review TwinkleTup, Tupperware's latest range of innovative products for children and toddlers and of course I said YES! Leading household brand, new products for children and toddlers! Count me in!

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Tupperware TwinkleTup

Description from the product page:
"Tupperware Brands, a company synonymous with making a difference to the lives of women all around the world, including Malaysia, have taken their relationship with women, especially mothers to the next level by introducing TwinkleTup, a new range of innovative products for children and toddlers.

Designed and developed after extensive research, tests and feedback from mothers, teachers and child developmentalists in markets worldwide, including Malaysia, TwinkleTup is a range of bright, colorful and specially designed range of drinking and feeding system for toddlers aged 6-18months and 18-36 months. The entire range of TwinkleTup comprise Twinkle Training Cup, Twinkle Snack Cup, Twinkle Hang on Spoon, Twinkle Easy Grip Bowl, Twinkle Cutlery Set and Twinkle Feeding Bowl. "

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My feedback will be based on each of the products I received, grouped by 2 categories of the TwinkleTup range which are the Twinkle Totz Set (6-18 months) and Twinkle Kidz Set (18-36 months). I got the products for both age group as Alyson is 18 months old and being in between these 2 groups, Tupperware was so generous enough to send me both age groups for us to try out! Awesome!

The 6 to 18 months Twinkle Totz Set

Tupperware TwinkleTup

Twinkle Training Cup - this cup is easy for my 1.5 year old girl to hold, all you need to do is turn the recessed lid a little and you just tilt the cup like how you drink from a cup and the water will flow smoothly to the rim. I tried it myself and the water flow is fast and smooth, unlike another brand of training cup I reviewed last year which required my child to suckle at the rim in order to get the water.

Tupperware TwinkleTup

Twinkle Snack Cup - This has got to be one of the cutest snack cup I've ever had for my kiddos! Despite its small size, it really can store quite a lot of snacks in the cup! The cover lid is a bit difficult for me to close off initially (but I think that's because it's brand new and I need some more practises with the One Touch method to open and close Tupperware products) but it does seal the snacks inside and maintain its freshness and crispness. I love the color combination for the snack cup and it is easy for my toddler to hold and carry around. Also she does not get her chubby hand stuck in the snack cup despite my initial fear that the cup looks a bit too small for her to stuff her hand inside. Plus point as well!

Tupperware TwinkleTup

Twinkle Easy Grip Bowl & Hang on Spoon -This is another cute little bowl which I used to put snacks and fruits in for my kiddos. It comes with a hang-on spoon where you can easily rest the spoon by leaning the groove part to the lid of the bowl. This bowl came with a blue colored cover which snaps on easily and closes the bowl conveniently. I do prefer to reuse the spoon for the Twinkle Feeding Bowl so if there's any way Tupperware could sort of add on another groove on the higher part of the spoon so that I can also rest the spoon on the Twinkle Feeding Bowl I think that would be awesome! But then, that's just my own preference of being able to make full use of the spoon whenever possible.

Tupperware TwinkleTup

 

The 18 to 36 months Twinkle Kidz Set

Tupperware TwinkleTupTwinkle Cutlery Set - Okay, the first time I opened up the orange-y colored pencil-case container and found a set of fork and spoon inside, the first thing that came into my mind is 'Oooo... I can recycle this case to be Ben's pencil case next time!' Woopss... sorry but I sometime tend to have ideas to recycle kiddos stuff! Anyway, the red colored fork and spoon fits nicely into the container and I guess it serves the purpose of being able to carry the cutlery set around everywhere you go! The size of the cutlery is just right not too small and easy to be hold by kiddos fingers, handling wise although the design is ergonomic, there are times the fork and spoon slipped right out of my wet hands (I sometimes feed my kiddos as we need to rush through our timetable when kiddos are having their slow-poke moments)

Tupperware TwinkleTup

Twinkle Feeding Bowl - Oooo! I love this gigantic feeding bowl. Okay, it feels gigantic to me anyway. The feeding bowl comes with a green colored cover which you can easily snap close onto the feeding bowl. The bowl is not too deep or too shallow and I like that my kiddos and I can easily scoop the remaining food in the bowl. 

Tupperware TwinkleTup

Twinkle Straw Tumbler & Straw Brush (not shown in picture) - This is by far my favorite products in the TwinkleTup range. My girl can easily hold and carry it around and I did tried to sip some water from the tumbler and I love the fast flowing water (unlike my kiddos' current water bottles which are quite difficult to suck through the water) One thing that I would totally like Tupperware to consider is to add a cute little strap around the tumbler so we could easily bring it out and hang it in our stroller or around kiddo's shoulder or sling across their body. That would be perfect!

Tupperware TwinkleTup

In summary, what is awesome about the TwinkleTup range of products is they are BPA-free, non-toxic, colour-safe and children-safe, something that us parents look out for and very concerned with when buying things for our children in this modern age. In addition, the products are said to comply with international standards and come with a lifetime warranty. Coolness!

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For more information, visit tupperwarebrands.com.my or http://www.facebook.com/Tupperware.Brands.Malaysia.Singapore

You can also view this video on the TwinkleTup products.

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I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the products by Tupperware 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.

iPad App Review - The Croods Movie Storybook

~ Posted on Friday, April 5, 2013 at 8:38 AM ~

It was such a nice coincidence that I get to review this storybook app with my kiddos! I was just watching the movie trailer over at IMDB website the other day and my 4 years old Benjamin was laughing along at some of the funny scenes in the trailer and I was thinking, 'Wow! This story managed to capture his attention and got him laughing! This is something!'. Without further ado, here goes my feedback...

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The Croods Movie Storybook

* Title: The Croods Movie Storybook
* Price: $3.99
* Category: Books
* Released: Mar 22, 2013
* Version: 1.0
* Size: 494 MB
* Language: English
* Seller: zuuka incorporated © 2013 DreamWorks Animation, L.L.C.
* Rated: 4+
* Requirements: Compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 5.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

Description from the product page:

"The Croods Movie Storybook Deluxe transports fans back in time to tell the story of the first family road trip. Grug leads his caveman family, the Croods, on a perilous adventure across harsh terrain as they try to outrace cataclysmic events. Can Grug do it alone, or will the Croods require the help of Guy, a brave outsider? Join Grug, Ugga, Eep, Guy, Thunk, Sandy, Gran, and a cast of prehistoric creatures to find out if they can survive the journey–and each other!"

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* The illustrations is clear and vivid, as for storyline, I can't say for certain whether it is exactly the same from the movie as I haven't got the chance to watch any movies for a long long long time!

* One of the cool thing in this app is you can select the Croods Couture and Survival Gear activities, which allow you to customize the outfits for Guy and Eep, and the final selections of your design will be worn by them throughout the story!

* I personally chuckled along and was amazed at the cute and creative animals in the storybook, something out of ordinary such as piranha keets, bear owl and much more! Of course, I do let my boy know these animals can only be found in this story and they are not real.

* I used the opportunity in this storybook app to teach my boy that we have to stick as a family, to respect our parents and to follow our dreams. We should also be careful when we decide on something and not make a decision on impulse.

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You can purchase the "The Croods Movie Storybook" app from the iTunes App Store.

I'm a full-time mummy

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the promo code to redeem the application for free from iTunes Store 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. And if you'd like to read my previous iPad Apps reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My iPad App Reviews"

Guest Post: Daydreams - Life in the Middle East

~ Posted on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 10:14 AM ~

Life as a full-time mummy is busy and chaotic, particularly in ensuring my home-schooling continues to be efficient and I am providing my kids with all of the things they need. However, there’s no harm in a bit of daydreaming from time to time, and I’ve recently been wondering what it would be like if we spent a year or so living in a different country, for example Oman! Although this may never become reality – and would certainly make a dent in the savings account – I decided to carry out a bit of research and also think about what families require in order to be happy in their country of choice. For me, Oman is like a dream land of Arabian Seas, hills rising into the sunset and beautiful white stone architecture – a place where adventures begin.


Visa Applications   
Let’s begin with the basics. Generally if you want to live for any length of time overseas you will require a visa. In Oman, it seems that it is advisable to search for a job and a company willing to sponsor you before moving out there, in order to obtain an employment visa. This also means that the company will fill out most of the paperwork, but it will be relatively tricky to change jobs once you arrive. Common industries include teaching, oil, construction and engineering, medicine and project management, so you do need to come with skills.

My first priority is my family and I would never consider moving anywhere without them. Family residence visas are available ensuring that we could all move together, meaning we wouldn’t have to spend any time apart during the moving process. Alternatively if my husband were to move first he could apply on our behalf.


Housing
Having a lovely home in Malaysia is very important to my family and this principle probably applies to most mums around the world. It is a place where memories are made and a secure property where we can all feel safe. Studies have revealed that Malaysia is an up-and-coming area for investment in property, so I would be reluctant to give up our place here. However, if we were to think about it, Oman has a range of properties available, but usually it is only possible to rent rather than buy. Employers tend to be responsible for finding accommodation, and if you prefer freedom of choice, moving overseas is not necessarily for you. It is not uncommon for housing needs to be accommodated on a compound where other expats live too, which probably would make the cultural adjustments easier. I think our happiness depends to a certain extent on living in a good area, travelling to work with ease and having enough space so that we are not on top of each other 24/7. 


Banking
Having easy access to a family savings account and available funds would be a primary concern for me – I want to invest money for our future stability. There are many internationally renowned banks in Oman, which allow standard facilities, plus global ATMS where cash can be withdrawn from accounts in your home country. This would make the lifestyle relatively easy in terms of accessibility to money, a primary concern when you have kids to consider!

Overall, quality of life with a family is dependent upon many factors, and I would definitely want to ensure that we would be happy not only in our work and home conditions but also our leisure time. Oman would have to provide plenty of activities and access to the countryside so that we could enjoy residency there.