Fruity Fun with Philips Jamie Oliver Hand Blender

We all know the benefits of fruits. They are nature's rainbow medicine packed with minerals, vitamins, micro-nutrients and anti-oxidants which help to optimise our health, boost our immunity level and protect us from ailments and diseases.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Did you know that eating apples can lower 'bad' cholesterol levels too?

I have always tried to cultivate the habit of eating fruits daily in the house but it is the kind of thing where it is easier said than done. There are times when the platter of fruits just looks b.o.r.i.n.g. Dull. Plain. Uninviting. Even to me. So it's not a surprise that many a time, I tell my girl "Let's eat some fruits" in a highly enthusiastic voice and she returns with a monotonous "I don't want" and runs off to play instead.

So, I decided to inject jazz up things a little in the hope of raising her interest. With the help of my Philips Jamie Oliver Hand Blender, a dream item I have always wanted in my kitchen, I found some simple, quick and effective ways to make eating fruits a fun affair.

The Philips JO Hand blender comes with (from left) a whisk, motor unit and bar body, chopper unit and bowl, 1.0L beaker with lid

A hand blender is a great, inexpensive tool to have in the kitchen and it is ideal for blending, pureeing, chopping and whipping. The Philips Jamies Oliver hand blender features a strong, titanium coated blade which ensures it stays sharper for longer and the use of ProMix technology makes it deliver the finest and evenly cut results. In fact, the blender feels like my third hand in the kitchen and as a mum of two, that is very much helpful and time-saving indeed.

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1) Let's shake it!

Remember to hull the strawberries and divide the banana into chunks.

What's easier than having to chew and eat fruits? Drink it. One morning, we made a healthy strawberry banana breakfast shake. All we had to do was combine the ingredients into the beaker and blend! If there are any leftovers, you can just pop the lid on and store it in the fridge.

I love the pink colour of the breakfast shake!

Now, how's that for breakfast? If you like, you can also add in some breakfast oats to make it more wholesome and for the lactose intolerant, try using yoghurt or orange juice instead.

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2) The kind of Traffic Lights we like

To get the coloured layers, simply freeze the puree in parts. Each will take approximately two hours.

If there's one thing I love on a hot summer day, it's ice cream. The thing about ice cream is that you don't always perceive it as something healthy for your kid. What if, you made an ice lolly completely out of fruits? Using three types of fruit, we blended, sifted out the seeds, mixed in two tbsp of water in each portion and froze them separately into the popsicle molds.

I got the cute little molds from Daiso which even come with sticks.

Ta-dah! The traffic light ice lolly was all ready to greet Angel when she got back from school!

Her favourite was the yellow light just because the mango was the sweetest.

*lick lick yum yum* Now that's a healthy ice lolly my kid totally loves and I don't mind her having every other day.

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3) Fancy a sweet dessert?

With the hand blender, making sorbet is a breeze!

I have always liked sorbet but the thought of how much sugar goes inside lessens the appeal somewhat. The great thing about homemade sorbet is that you have total control over what goes in. We had some ripe and sweet-smelling mangoes at home so that was the perfect choice for our dessert. Just to add in that tangy flavour, I added in some lemon juice and zest.

All we did was to heat the water and dissolve the sugar (you can omit it if you prefer), mix in the juice and zest, combine everything into the chopper bowl and blend! Be careful of not going beyond the indicated maximum level or it will overspill.

The handy size of the blender means you can only make small portions in one go. This is perfect for us to share.

Freeze the mango and you will have a nice, sweet dessert that the whole family will love.

She ate the fruits before trying the sorbet. But once she started, she couldn't stop!

I actually thought Angel will not like the lemon taste since she dreads anything sour but she ended up taking bite after bite and telling me "Mummy, very nice!". Kids, they just surprise you, don't they?

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4) A little something for the baby

 I cut the fruits into cubes, boiled them to be on the safe side and to soften them a little.

One of the best things I like about the blender is that being handheld, that means you can blend directly into your pot! Can you imagine how convenient is that and how much washing it saves? *phew* Now that my little one is starting on solids, this is my perfect tool to create healthy, homemade puree for her. Leaving some water in the pot, I immersed the bar body, blended and it turned into a perfect mash. There is even a turbo button you can use to speed things up!

Minutes of blending lead to a fortnight's worth of supply, how easy!

What I love to do is to store the puree in portions after blending. These ice cube trays come with lids and help to keep the puree clean and safe in the freezer. All I need to do every time is to heat up one cube and voila, healthy fruits for my baby girl.

Baby Ariel always make such cute sucking noises when she eats fruit puree.

Does she love it? Well, that wide smile during eating, plus the loud whine when it is finished, say it all.

Do your kids like to eat fruits? Make it a fun affair and they will love it more!

Keep life simple with the PHILIPS | Jamie Oliver range which includes a food processor (S$268), hand blender (S$128) and blender (S$108). Available at leading electronics and departmental stores. 

Disclosure: This advertorial is part of a series of sponsored conversations between Philips and A Happy Mum. Product attributes are from Philips and all opinions are my own.

Happy Daddy's Day

To all the awesome Daddies in the world,

Please know that we won't be awesome Mummies without you. Oh, and thanks for helping us bring those cute little ones into the world. If anything, they are doubly awesome.

We wish all of you a Happy Father's Day.

For the breast start in life

No matter how far technology advances, there will always be some things in life that nature just does better. When it comes to our children, all we want for them is to have the best start in life. One way to achieve that is through breastfeeding.


When I was pregnant with my first child, I was determined to breastfeed her for as long as I possibly could. My mum had gently reminded me that she did not have any milk to provide to my brother and I, thus if the trend runs in the family, that means I won't have any milk in my boobs too. Thankfully, they literally rose up to the challenge and breastfeeding became one of the best parts of the motherhood journey.


 Did you know? 

There are plenty of facts as to why breast is best but here are what I like best.

1) It is easily digested
Breast milk is designed for a baby's sensitive digestive system, for instance its protein and fat are more easily absorbed by the baby than in cow's milk.

2) It is safe 
There is no worrying that the milk is not properly prepared or contaminated. Moreover, breast milk is always readily in stock, warmed, clean and ready for use.

3) It is convenient
When we go on road trips, I don't need to bring any bottles, powder or warmer. Regardless of whether we are on the road, at a hotel or in the restaurant, all the baby needs in order to be nourished is me. 

4) It is customized
Breast milk contains at least 100 ingredients that are not found in cow's milk and cannot be synthesized in the laboratory. In other words, it suits your baby perfectly.

5) It is absolutely free
Need I say more? Now I can use the savings for a family vacation instead.


6) It bonds you like no other

Last but not least, the most important point of all and the one thing that makes me wish I could breastfeed forever, is that strong mother-baby bond. The feeling of your baby's soft skin against you, the gaze of her eyes into yours, the pleasure of cuddling and the soft loving touches as you hold your little one's hand and feel her suckling away, that is heavenly. While bottle feeding might generate similar pleasures, it will never be the same.

The good thing about bottle feeding, however, is that it gives daddies a chance to be mummies. While they will never know how it feels like to have the real thing, bottle feeding, or at least attempting to bottle feed before the baby rejects it, is a great way for the daddy and baby to build up a special bond too.




Perhaps I am one of the lucky ones who never had much problem with breastfeeding, other than the one time when I had a bad case of nipple infection and seriously, that hurt more than delivering a baby out of my uterus. However, other than that, I am blessed to be able to enjoy every breastfeeding session with Angel till she reached 16 months and now with Ariel, I actually look forward to every feeding session too

To know that whenever she is hungry or in a crying fit and Mummy is the only one in the world who can soothe and satisfy her, that feels pretty awesome. Even if that means my sleep gets interrupted in the middle of the night or that I usually hear the door banging when I am taking a bath.

Thankfully, I have a hubby who is fully supportive of breastfeeding and even though he cannot take my place, he helps out with the household chores or look after the elder sister and give me, and my boobs, more time and space to breathe. It may get a tad tiring sometimes for both of us but when our baby breaks into that gorgeous, wide, contented smile, it just makes everything worthwhile.

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While I might not be a lactation expert, I strongly believe that breastfeeding is good for both mother and baby and having the below three 'P's might get you off to a better start.

1) Be prepared
Read up on books and online articles on breastfeeding. It is always good to be knowledgeable and be ready if you encounter situations of mastitis, blocked milk ducts or sore nipples. Also, stock up a good breast pump and feeding bottles, for instance the Philips AVENT comfort pump and Natural bottles, because you never know when you might need them. Learn about the different breastfeeding positions and try them to find out which works best for you and your baby.

2) Be perseverant
I honestly believe in when there is demand, there will be supply. If your milk doesn't come, seek help from an expert instead of lamenting or giving up. When pain occurs, clench your teeth and hang in there because it will eventually pass. When you get weary from being a feeding machine, look at your baby in the eyes and let him/her be your source of motivation. Be strong, be firm, be tough.

3) Be positive
They say a happy mum makes a happy baby. In order for your child to benefit and enjoy the breastfeeding journey, as a mum, you must first be able to derive pleasure from it too. Don't think of it as a chore, think of it as a chance for you to be the most special person in the first couple of years of your baby's life. A change in perspective might do wonders.

To my baby, it is an indescribable joy watching you grow up day by day and knowing that we have that special, irreplaceable bond between us.

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As a leader in parenting and baby products, Philips AVENT strongly advocates breastfeeding and provides mothers and babies with solutions that give the little ones the best start in life, seeing them through to the growing stages and beyond. Look out for more to come from Philips AVENT and visit www.philips.com.sg/avent for more information.

Disclosure: This review is part 3 of a series of sponsored conversations between Philips AVENT and A Happy Mum. All opinions are my own.
 

Meeting the purple dinosaur

The first time I heard of the name Barney, that was when I had already become a mum in Sweden. I was like "Barley I know. Barbie I know. But Barney, whassat?"

See, that was my ignorance about the widely popular, celebrated and much-adored-by-kids-around-the-world purple dinosaur. Anyway, so we bought some Barney DVDs and let's just say he became Angel's buddy, and my babysitter, for a good couple of years in Sweden.

So when we were invited to meet and greet Barney last Friday at City Square Mall last week, I knew my girl would be ecstatic about it.




When I saw the crowd gathered in front of the stage and all the way to the highest level, I was like "Ok, I have a preschooler, an infant, a bulky diaper bag and a stroller with me. Hmmm. Where should I even stand?"

Luckily, thanks to the folks at SPRG, we had exclusive first row seats reserved for us and our fellow blogger friends. Now, that's what I call really coming up close with Barney.



Throughout the show, my girl's eyes never left the stage as she sang and danced with Barney and Friends to the tunes of "If you're happy and you know", "The Baby Bop Hop" and of course the famed "I love you". Even though the performance lasted for a short 15 minutes, I was glad I decided to lug the kids and belongings here on a Friday night.


Well, the fact that we were the very first ones to take a photograph with Barney and Friends, this meant something to my girl and I know it will be a happy memory etched in her mind for a long time to come. As for Ariel, well, you will get to know the purple dinosaur soon, I bet!

Is your kid a Barney fan too?

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Come Celebrate with Barney & Friends this June holiday at City Square Mall from now till 16 June. Kids get to sing and dance along with Barney through a live performance and get closer to the characters in an exclusive Meet & Greet session that shoppers can redeem with a minimum spending of $50. Details and show timings here. 

Disclosure: A Happy Mum received a media invite to the above event. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Giggle gaggle - Ariel's 5th month

The first time she made that loud, long string of laughing sounds, I said to myself "Was that her? No, it was Angel, right? No wait, jiejie is not in the house? You mean, my baby just laughed?"

Then I proceeded to tickle her non-stop just to hear those cute guffaws once again. And I did it every day, every afternoon and every night. Yes, I forgot how awesome it felt. Those moments were magic.

So, not only do I get to see those gorgeous smiles on her face every day now, I get to hear that infectious, heartwarming, can't-get-enough-of laughter too. Ain't I a lucky mum? In fact, when we go out, I get so many smiles from strangers on the streets and on the MRT only to realise that it was because my baby was saying "Hello" to them with her big smile.

Here is a video of my girl in her 5th month. I love you so much, darling Ariel, and I hope you will stay such a happy baby always!

 
For a complete list of Angel and Ariel's videos, visit my gallery here.

It's a hairy affair - Our favourite outdoor activity

I like the fact that we have always been an outdoorsy type of family.

Since Angel was born, come every weekend, we would bring her out on road trips in Sweden, spend a day at the beach, have a barbeque or simply laze around in the park. Now that we are back in Singapore, we like to explore different corners of Singapore and breathe in all the beauty and joy you can find on this small-but-not-that-small island.

It would be tough for me to pick our favourite outdoor activity because if you were to talk about swimming, hiking, running or building sandcastles, we love them all. However, there is one particular activity which makes Angel beam with delight a little more than the rest.

That is - visiting zoos and coming up close with animals. I do mean any animal. In fact, she even adores insects, reptiles and marine creatures too.

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We have this affinity with animals and somehow they seem to brighten up our day and bring big smiles onto our faces. One of my favourite pastime back in Sweden was simply to sit by the lake with my girl on a hot summer day, enjoy the cooling breeze while tossing pieces of bread to the swans, ducks and seagulls.

By the age of three, Angel has ridden on three ponies and a horse, touched a python, witnessed a penguin parade, had breakfast with zebras and visited a lion's den. Quite a feat, right?


As much as my girl is afraid of the dark, loud noises and scary monsters, she displays exceptional valour when it comes to the hairy creatures. I have been amazed by how she would not hesitate stepping into a cage filled with animals to feed and pat them, how she would not shun at the sight of furry caterpillars or flying bats and how she would place a snail on her palm and still be able to put on a wide grin.

To date, we have visited over 20 European cities and it is not a surprise that we would include the zoo in almost every of our itinerary. The above are some of the zoos around the world we have set foot in. From the Scandinavian moose, the King penguin to the Icelandic horse, we are lucky to have witnessed the beauty of every of them.

If being with animals makes my girl happy, I sure don't mind letting her come up close with them. So long as they are not wild boars, skunks or man-eaters. Rabbits, goats, hens, ducks, dogs or even elephants, if she wishes to feed, touch or pat them, by all means. We do our part as protective parents by constantly reminding her about the importance of hygiene and how she needs to make handwashing a habit, especially after coming into contact with animals.

Perhaps when the hubby and I chose to have our wedding pre-shoot at the zoo, we half knew that this was going to be our favourite spot next time. Well, now that we are parents of two and have become close Friends of the Singapore Zoo, visiting this place becomes at least a monthly affair for our family and it never fails to bring us joy and laughter.

We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo
How about you, you, you?

What is your favourite outdoor activity? 

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This post is sponsored by Lifebuoy. By empowering mums to protect kids from germs, we can better enjoy outdoor activities knowing that we are one step ahead of infections.

Disclosure: This is part of a series of sponsored conversations between Lifebuoy and A Happy Mum. All opinions are my own.