June Holiday Programme: BBQ Under the Stars at Port of Lost Wonder, Sentosa!

The fun just keeps getting better this June Holidays! Soak up the sun at Sentosa's Port Of Lost Wonder this month with a special BBQ Under the Stars every weekend.  We were invited to a special preview last Saturday and totally love the concept. 

The little pirates - Caleb & Dana!

BBQ Under the Stars starts at 6.30pm after the maddening day crowd has left.  The wide expanse of the water park, the greenery and the sand were all ours to enjoy!  Our first visit was during its official opening last year and since then, the kids literally couldn't wait to soak in the fun. 

Our fav waterpark in Sentosa - POLW!

The guests were greeted by the neatly laid out buffet line which forms part of the BBQ. There were salad station, dessert station, soup station, drink station and even curry station!  With such a great variety of Asian and Western dishes available, we were spoiled for choice.

A welcoming Kampong buffet set up...

Lovely signages lit by tea-lights when night falls...

First stop - Salad Stations...

Appetizers...

Next Station - desserts!

Freshly baked Bread Pudding!

Assortment of Cheesecakes!

Alcohol Station - wine and spirits for the Adults...

Admission fee for BBQ Under the Stars includes the generous buffet and a choice of Main Course from their grill menu which will be cooked to order!  I had the grilled sausage platter; Daddy opted for the marinated beef rump and Dana had a mini burger patty set. All sets come served with 2 side (greens and potato wedges/mashed potatoes) and a drink (juices for kids; soft drinks and alcoholic beverages for adults).  The food was so well-grilled and delicious!

Your personal BBQ chef...

Kids' mini burger set...

My sausage platter with oh-so-yummy wedges!

The yummy beef rump, absolutely well done...

The kids tucking into their meal before the waterplay...Caleb loved the pumpkin soup!

After a light meal, the kids ran off to play on the Pirate Ship while the adults continued their conversations around the table.

Against the setting sun...



Ahoy Mateys! Fun Beckons!

Mats for Movie Under the Stars...

When night falls, the entire park is magically transformed before our eyes.  Families gathered on the mats for the outdoor movie screening.  The kids enjoyed watching Disney-classic movies right under the vast night sky. Those who still did not have their fill of the Pirate ship can continue playing...or they can join in the foam party too at the kiddy foam pool.  Whatever it is, the night is certainly young!

 POLW by night!

A new experience for the kids - Movie Under the Stars!

You can play till your hearts' content

It could be the relaxed vibe of Sentosa or the unhurried Saturday laid back pace. I find myself enjoying BBQ Under the Stars more than expected and I wish we had lingered longer.  I thought it's an ingenious idea for POLW and Sentosa to reinvent itself -  a fantastic way to bring families and friends together to do something both kids and adults enjoy (kids swim and adults eat!) then round it off with a unique experience of watching movie together under the stars.

A group of us signing off from Sentosa!

POLW will be hosting BBQ Under the Stars every Friday and Saturday in June 2013. This enjoyable night event provides free play at the Pirate Ship and a BBQ to fill everyone's tummy! There's lots of good food from a buffet spread of starters and salads, to a wide variety of barbecued mains and free flow desserts to sweeten the entire experience! There will also be a special movie screening for families to cuddle together outdoors.

For NTUC & POLW Members: $5 OFF per Adult and Child ticket

 

BBQ Under the Stars
Dates: Every Friday and Saturday in June 2013 (07, 08, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 June 2013)
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Location: Port of Lost Wonder
Pricing: $35 /Adult  |  $30 /Child  (comes with a free drink/house pour)
Check out more events and promotions on POLW's Facebook Page!

Do hop over to these parent blogger's blogs to read their accounts of BBQ Under the Stars!
Sengkang Babies
A Dollop of Me
View from Mama's Desk

Come on and Just Wonder...

Big thank you to Port of Lost Wonder, Sentosa for inviting us to this awesome BBQ Under the Stars. We had a whale of a time and hope more families will experience this fantastic night event for themselves!

 

14 Things I Thank God for in 14 years of Marriage...

14 years ago on our Wedding Day...

Our Wedding Day ~ 17 June 1999

We wed in a beautiful ceremony in front of our Pastors, friends and loved ones...

14 years later, we are still so much in love...and we've multiplied to become a family...

Family is spelled 'JOY'...

To my dearest husband, here are 14 things I thank God for:

1. You sacrificed for me and the family.  No requests or needs of ours is too inconvenient or too cumbersome for you. 

2. Your sense of wit and humour cracks me up and helps me see the lighter side of things.

3.  You are a stable rock in our tumultuous years of IVF and TTC; and now as we wait on the Lord for #2 (if He's willing).

4. You love us fiercely with no compromise.

5. You still make me fall in love all over again when you play the flute on stage.

6. You write me beautiful notes, which I adore and treasure more than any electronic messages or gifts. 

7. You care about your health and ours. You hit the gym at 6am before you head to work and lovingly lay out our vitamins on the dining table each morning without fail...

8. You encourage me to be faithful in my walk with God and sets an example with your daily morning devotions and prayers.

9. You never put me down, and think the world of me even though I am really not that great to be married to. I am a better person because of you.

10. You love travelling and we go on the most enriching trips together (budget permitted).  You take great photos and videos to document these trips!

11. You are the best Daddy to our daughter - your enthusiasm, your patience and your spontaneity puts me to shame. 

12. When we are asleep, you plough through the heaps of mails from the mailbox and ensure all bills are paid on time, month after month. 

13. You give me inspirations and encouragement when I meet with road-bumps in my work or personal life.

14. You work hard at keeping our romance and marriage alive. You still make my heart flutter and brings up the most beautiful smile whenever you walk through the front door after a long day at work. 

So darling, thank you for 14 years of companionship and love. Thank you for not giving up on me and thank you for being my joy unspeakable. 14 years ago, I did and today I still do.  Blessed 14th Anniversary.

Truly, Madly, Deeply Yours.

 

Happy Fathers' Day 2013!

A post dedicated to my loving husband and fantastic Daddy to Dana...

What makes a Dad?

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer's sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of Nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of an eagle's flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family's need,

Then God combined these qualities

and there was nothing more to add,

He knew his Masterpiece was complete.

And so, He named it - 'Dad'.

Our #1 Daddy!

Daddy, thank you for being our greatest advocate and the family's Chief Fun Officer (CFO). Without you, our lives would be so colourless.  Thank you for being the most spontaneous, loving, tireless and hands-on Daddy to our daughter.  She has caught on your love for music, for chocolate, for reading and for the great outdoors...You inspire in her a quest for adventures and a thirst for knowledge. Through you, she is growing to be a robust, confident, courageous little girl - the type of daughter you've always wanted. The wacky things you do together and the bond you share are unparallelled...I know you probably heard me say this many times but I just want to affirm you again on this day that you are doing an awesome job Daddy.  I couldn't have asked for a better partner in this journey of parenting.  I pray as we parent Dana hand in hand, our efforts will bear good fruit - that we will raise a God-fearing young lady after God's own heart, with a destiny for His glory. 

Blessed Fathers' Day to you Daddy! 

 

June Holiday Art Workshops By HeART Studio

‘I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me’...

Henri Matisse (1869 – 1954)

 Tools of the Trade...

Great art cannot be fabricated, it has to be inspired. Every artist, be it a painter, an actor or a musician, will attest to the fact that without inspiration, the creative sparks within will eventually die. 

Art Enrichment Centers are a dime a dozen in Singapore and Dana have attended a few.  When it comes to art schools, a good syllabus alone does not suffice.  It must have the ability to empower the young artists to love and be intrinsically involved in the process of creating art, and encourage them to draw inspiration from within.  For that to happen, the quality of instructions, the delivery and the environment all play such a significant part.

 The affable Teacher Elma was her Teacher for these two workshops...

Dana attended two June Holiday Art Workshops at HeART Studio this week.  The first lesson was a Painting on Canvas class entitled ‘Henri Matisse's Interior Canvas’.  The children were given few paintings from the French painter - Henri Matisse  - and they had to pick one which they would like to model after. This gives the young artists a sense of ownership. The children were closely supervised by the friendly but firm Teacher Elma. Discipline is an integral part of creativity and I was glad to see Teacher Elma having good control of the class.   The children were also encouraged to demonstrate independence by drying their own artwork and taking a gallery walk to view one another’s paintings when they were done.

 Our little painter trying to re-create Henri Matisse's painting...

 All of them were given little tasks to take ownership of the entire artwork...

Lots of fine details go into this piece of canvas...

 Hungry and tired after completing her masterpiece but what an accomplishment!

The second workshop of creating tile art from air-dry clay was similarly an experience of ownership, creativity and discipline where the children were given choices, worked within clear boundaries and were given some independent tasks, all under the careful tutelage and guidance of the very experienced and pleasant Teacher Elma.

So happy to get started!

Modelling the clay to form her chosen subject - a Dragonfly!

 First time creating Art on a tile!

Adding more colours to the Dragonfly...

 Learning how to add details to the painting...

The physical environment plays a big role in nurturing creativity.  At HeART Studio, not only were their corridors and waiting areas clean, airy and adorned with beautiful pieces of art, I liked the fact that one can subtly draw inspiration even from the thoughtfully planned interior designs:  The rectangular and square windows carved side by side with the displayed art pieces seem to suggest that what goes on within these windows (ie. inside the classrooms) are pieces of art themselves…the charcoal drawings of buildings and houses juxtaposed with the actual street scene seem to suggest that art imitates life (or could it be the other way around)?.  Whatever it is, stepping into such a creative art space prepares the young artists to unleash their creativity.   

Little Picassos within...

 There's Art happening inside these windows...

 Art imitates life?

At the end of her 2-day sessions at HeART Studio, Dana felt an enormous sense of accomplishment and was animatedly showing off her artwork to Mommy back home.  We are proud and heartened that she had yet another enjoyable learning experience this school holidays and HeART Studio has ignited in her a love for Art as a medium of expression. If you are looking for a good Art Enrichment Centre, do visit their website or like their Facebook Page.  HeART Studio conducts lessons for adults too, check out Mommy's experience here.

 With her completed tile art!

HeART Studio: Teaching Art from the Heart

Heart Studio LLP
101 Soo Chow Walk Singapore 575385
Tel: (65) 6554 7563
Fax: (65) 6554 7562
Email: info@heartstudiosg.com

Disclaimer: Dana attended these workshops for the purposes of this review. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are ours.