[Review + Giveaway] Bing Liang Bakery Mooncakes [Low Sugar]

It is time of the year to indulge in Mooncakes, if you are looking for a brand, assured with good quality at a reasonable price, to gift to your corporate staff, vendors, friends, extended families, here I share with you my review for Bing Liang Bakery Mooncakes and why you should put this brand into your list to consider if you would like to purchase as gifts to your bosses, corporate partners, friends and even extended family members!

1. Packaging - The mooncakes are individually packed and seal and contained in a sweet pink, floral design with two-tier, pull-out drawers type of packaging and with magnetic flaps for closure by the sides. The structure of the box is very sturdy which makes it recycable as a stationery box or small sized items. I will definitely use it to contain my craft materials like washi tapes, markers or even my essential oils. It comes in a matching sweet pink paper bag too!

2. Taste - Truthfully, it looks just like the typical type of traditional baked mooncakes. As I am trying to cut down my sugar intake recently, I opted for Low Sugar White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolks 【低糖】.

You have to agree with me that if you decided to go for heathier choice, the texture of the food may not be as nice as the usual. Crust seemed a little dry for The Low Sugar White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolks. It was less oily as compared to other baked mooncakes which I have tried before, I saw minimal trace of oil on my fingers.

Mooncakes with yolks are preferred when it comes to traditional baked mooncakes and I love double yolks! Some of the yolks I have tried at mooncake fairs tasted bland but I loved the taste of the yolks Bing Liang Bakery used to bake. The yolks had a layer of oil emitted from the yolk itself which I felt that it balanced up with the paste. Simply delectable!

The paste was good, not oily and it was indeed less sweet and I quite like it. I actually savoured one big mooncake by myself while working on this post without feeling cloying. This makes a good choice for kids and elderly, I am getting the Low Sugar White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncakes for the Mid-Autmn Festival Celebration at her school! 

As shown below, the crust of the pastry has the flavours molded on it which made it easy to differentiate when we are looking for the flavour and type. If you browse online, there are other flavours like Durian Mooncake, Green Tea Mooncake, Pandan Mooncake, Red Bean Mooncake for you to choose to suit your tastebud!

3. Afforable pricing - If you have made your rounds at Mooncake Fairs, most of the pricing I saw for mooncakes are at least $52 onwards. It is even more expensive if you want to go for the healthier choice or with double yolks. Bing Liang's Mooncakes is more pocket friendly, it is $50 for a box of 4 Low Sugar White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolks! Bing Liang Bakery does offer discount for bulk purchases, be sure to click on the PROMOTION tab.

4. Delivery - It is $8 for delivery but you get it free with orders more than $88! The best part of it is, you can opt to get the mooncakes delivered within 60 minutes upon making your purchase online! This indeed helps busy consumers in saving time in delivering to the recipients. You get to opt for the delivery date and time slot with just a click away!

You can also go for tasting or opt for self collection between 2-7pm at: 

39A Jalan Pemimpin 

#03-01C

Singapore 577183 

(Nearest station: Marymount MRT, 5 mins walk away) 

For enquiries:
Watsapp to +65 96183746 (For sales)
Watsapp to +65 93844885 (For order)
Email: hello@bingliang.com.sg

[Discount code + Giveaway] 
Bing Liang Bakery has generously sponsored 3 boxes of their traditional mooncakes for a giveaway to celebrate this Mid-Autumn Festival as well as a 10% off  your total purchase. Simply enter XAVVYLICIOUS10 under the promo code before checking out. You can indicate your choice of Mooncake out of these three flavors: Durian Mooncake, White Lotus Paste with Single Yolk (Normal or Low Sugar) and Green Tea Mooncake.

Simply follow the following steps:
1. Follow @CNYgoodies on Instagram and on Facebook .
2. Follow @Xavvylicious on Instagram and on Facebook.
3. Indicate your choice of mooncakes under the comments of the post.
4. Tag your friends whom you would like to share with! One name per comment and multiple entries are welcome!
5. Contest runs from 29 August to 4 September 2019, 2359 hours.
6. Contest is open for contestants residing in Sinapore only.
7. All winners are to collect their prize at the showroom.
7. Winners will be contacted via DM/PM and to respond to the notification within 48 hours. Otherwise, I reserve the right to choose a new winner.

For additional chances of winning, follow @3dimsummoms on Instagram too!

Thank you for participating and good luck!

You can also visit Bing Liang's social media sites for more information:

Facebook | Website | Instagram

Thanks again Masons Home Decor and Bing Liang Bakery for sending the delectable mooncakes over!

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Melodious Cove After School Care (Primary Schools)

Being a Stay-at-home mum does not mean that I have the ability to look after and give both Xav and Vera my 101% attention. That is why Vera is being placed in a childcare centre while I can still coach and revise with Xav in the afternoon.

On the other hand, some of my friends who are full-time working mums, shared that their kids are either looked after by their parents, parents-in-law or enrolled into a student care centre, where the children will only be picked up after the parents knock off.

To me, sourcing for an after-school care centre is similar to looking for a childcare centre. Here, I share the factors which will determine where I enrol my kids in if I ever need the service one day.

When I am on a search for a suitable childcare or schools for Xav and Vera, these are the factors I will usually take into consideration; 

- Fee (must be reasonable and whether if it is worth the price I am paying) 

- Environment (must be bright and airy) 

- Enrichment (not a must but it is a bonus to have)

- Distance (preferably to be near to home)

I had the chance to visit Melodious Cove at The GrandStand.

The magnificent, vast and well-lit space by both natural sunlight and bulbs, made my brain shout "WOW!" The first impression counts and is always important. The first impression of the centre had won a vote from me.

The vast space at Melodious Cove made me feel totally comfortable and free, nothing sort of feeling constrained at all. The reception was right at the middle and on the extreme right, stood a stage. Where else can you find a stage in a student care? Let me share more about my tour experience in the later part of the post.

Right beside the stage is where natural lighting poured in and with the windows overlooking the green fields, I thought it would be ideal for giving those tired eyes a break.

A cosy corner on the extreme left was set up for students who would love to wind down and grab a read.

Reading corner

This is my first experience visiting a student care and I was impressed that Melodious Cove had thoughtfully engaged reputable education centres to provide and expose the students to different types of learning on a weekly basis. 

The impressive part was, Melodious Cove has enrichment courses to impart academic knowledge and at the same time, equip their students with soft skills, which is essential for everyone to have it for life. Let me bring you through the activities on a typical Tuesday afternoon for Primary 1 & 2 students.  

Students will come in for lunch, followed by an afternoon nap in gender dedicated rooms. 

Personally, I feel the need to have the confidence to speak in public, is very important. In any society, being able to communicate well is key. Communication allows one to form connection, to influence decision and Public Speaking classes help greatly for one who is afraid of presenting in public as these classes help to train their confidence where they learn how to present themselves confidently!

Melodious Cove also conducts a Public Speaking Course for their students. In this one-hour session, the trainer first warmed up the children with some Movement activities. The children needed to learn to listen, move and respond. Subsequently, trainer recapped what had been taught from the last lesson to ensure reinforcement for better learning.

Crafting a speech for self presentation about MYSELF.

The children were then tasked to share how their typical morning was like through actions or movements, and then took turns to go up to the front and act out whilst the rest made their guesses based on the actions. Pretty engaging and I love how Vera coud relate to the words better with actions!

That was not all, the "challenging" part came when they were told to go to the stage and gave a small introduction about themselves based on their crafted speech. One of the students was actually quite reserved, and upon hearing that she needed to present her speech on stage, she hid under the table and refused to budge. However, the trainer was really patient and professional where she gave the student space and assurance to take part when she was ready. Eventually, all students presented on the stage.

It was certainly very heartening to witness the change in the little girl within that short span of time! 

Vera was diagnosed with slight speech delay and this public speaking session somehow exposed her to more words and through the actions, she was able to relate to the words more effectively.  Vera also had a turn to present her introduction on stage which, I believed, gave her a boost of self confidence, regardless if she could present it fluently or not. To be able to stand in front of everyone with confidence, that was already a huge step out of her comfort zone. 

Apart from academic results which most parents go after in the highly competitive rat-race, how many of us have taken a step back and think about "emotional health"?

Having worked in the mental health sector, it is helpful to be reminded that mental health should be highlighted and groomed when one is at a young age. Besides the academics, stress for the younger generations tends to stem from a trying effort to fit into an ever-changing environment, the seemingly important need to establish new friendships while having to meet the sky-high expectations from teachers in school. Even tasks like buying food from the counter could be a stress factor for young students. In addition, when students lack the practice to feel and practice emotions, it is not easy for them to express themselves in front of their parents.

With both parents working hard to bring home the "bread and butter", they may not have the luxury of time to sit down and listen to their kids. Here is what makes Melodious Cove unique. On a bi-weekly basis, a trainer conducts Social Emotional Learning (SEL with Our Journey) for their students.

There, students are taught to reflect on their personal experience. During the session which I attended with Vera, the students were taught what empathy is and what perspective taking is all about. Being able to recognize and see things in a different perspective are important skills to help one adapt to a changing situation. Initially, I thought it seemed to be a little too deep and profound for the young ones but I was surprised that the kids were actually listening to what the trainer was sharing!

Students can also confide in the trainer when they feel "safe" enough to share about their challenges and feelings, should they find it difficult to share with their teachers. I personally feel it is always good to have a mentor to confide in. Infact, this is my first time hearing about a SEL programme being conducted in a student care setting. Pretty unique, and I must say the founders of the centre are really thoughtful to engage a consultant to embed this programme in students' learning. 

For Chinese Enrichment, Melodious Cove has engaged the service of Hua Cheng Education Centre (Bukit Timah Branch).

Chinese is one of the subjects which many parents face challenges in, for many do not speak Mother Tongue at home. As a result, the child is under-exposed to the language and due to lack of practice and exposure, learning Mother Tongue then becomes a real challenge for some kids.

During the two hours (with a break in between), the teacher covered all aspects of what should be taught in terms of the scheme of work. From going through the list of new vocabulary with the students (she got them to read out loud to build up their oracy skills and word recognition), to the formation of new words with a particular character, Chinese spelling (aka Ting Xie), comprehension; the teacher also led and guided the students to form ideas and sentences for Chinese composition.

Lastly, the teacher wrote a sample of a model composition on the board and got the students to copy down on their worksheets. In my opinion of what had been gone through, it was almost similar to what I would have covered with Xav, with all elements of a typical "test" covered.

Time is never enough for working parents, imagine having precious weekends being taken up by back-to-back enrichment classes? Instead, at Melodious Cove, the enrichment classes are all conducted during weekday afternoons where it gives parents the flexibility of continuing with supporting their children's interest outside of school and develop their potential in non-academic areas. 

So why rush to and fro to pick up the child for a 2 hours lesson? Parents can simply sign up at Melodious Cove which includes daily care, homework guidance, enrichment classes, life skills and lunch. This indeed is a perfect plan for working parents with Melodious Cove being the one-stop enrichment provider, saving parents precious time and money. 

Refer to the table below, the left column is a cost estimate if it were to be a regular basic care + average enrichment provider. The right column is a cost comparison where it is basic care + high end enrichment provider. Do enquire at Melodious Cove, I am sure you will find their fees substantially cheaper.

Background

Melodious Cove is a premium after school care birthed and cradled by three passionate, loving mothers who desire to create a safe learning haven. Holding steadfast to "family-oriented-ness", the founders believed that weekends should be enjoyed together as a family and that children can have the time to pursue their interests and develop their talents. Hence, Melodious Cove aims to support families in preserving family time through injecting a "Daily Dose of Fun Learning" in their after-school care programme.

[GIVEAWAY] 

I am pleased to share that I have 3 passes of a 3-Day free trial on basic care and homework guidance at Melodious Cove to 3 followers! 

Simply follow the following steps: 

- Follow @MelodiousCove on Instagram and Facebook

- Follow @Xavvylicious on Instagram and Facebook

 Tag your friends, one name per comment in the posts, multiple entries are welcome. 
-  Contest runs from 22 Aug - 28 Aug 2019, 2359 hours 

Terms and conditions: 

- The pass is not transferable or exchangable for cash.

- Winners are to redeem the pass by 30 September 2019.
- By taking part, you agree to share your details with Melodious Cove and be contacted for free trial.  

Should you need more information, these are the social media sites you can pay a visit to: 

Website: https://melodiouscove.com.sg/

Facebook: @MelodiousCoveSg

Instagram: @MelodiousCove

Address: 

200 Turf Club Road

#03-12 

The Grandstand 

Singapore 287994

Tel: 6767 0388

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The Hit Broadway Musical - Disney Aladdin

After having met the cast during the Media call in March, I was eagerly anticipating to this spectacular production, The Hit Broadway Musical - Disney Aladdin!

On the opening night, Sands Theatre was instantly transformed with 40 tonnes of scenary and 60 tonnes of automation staging to recreate a fantastical city of Agrabah.

Am sure you have read it from other influencers and I am not the only one citing that this musical is highly recommended!

My mini date

Quite a number of friends asked me if it is worth watching. Here is my review and why this is a musical not to be missed!

Photo credit: Base Entertainment

The musical was doused with seamless changing, breathtaking sets! My favourite scene has got to be at the Cave of Wonders, it was totally SHINING, SHIMMERING, SPLENDID!

Photo credit: Base Entertainment 

Right before our eyes, the magnificent, glittery settings and the projected sound effect made me felt like I was in the cave as well! A very elaborate and mersmerizing scene I say, imagine it had 120 pieces of GOLD used in the set!

Genie (played by Gareth Jacobs), he totally stole the show with his full enthusiasm in every of his movement! His longest solo scene, 8 mintutes of continuous dancing and singing, without a pant, won him thunderous ovation from the audience!

I could not help but tap along as I watched the cast sychronized their dance moves to the beats and not forgetting the hearty laughters with the every appearance of Genie! Not only Genie had injected some local flavour (Chilli Crab) into the show, we also witnessed some small magic during the show and in addition of the pyrotechnics display.



Another scene that took my breath away when the magic carpet flew into the mesmerizing, twinkling backdrop while we enjoyed the beautiful rendition "A Whole New World" by Princess Jasmine (played by Shubshiri Kandiah) and Aladdin (played by Graeme Isaako). I loved their great, charming chemistry with each other! If you do believe in disney magic, come experience this and see if you can find out how the carpet fly!

Photo credit: Base Entertainment

Besides, "A Whole New World",  I loved the rendition of "Proud of your boy" sung by Aladdin. This song was still singing in my head even after the musical had ended. This piece was not featured in the film, you can now take the opportunity to hear it live at the musical!

Not only new songs but new casts too! This production had a cast of 34 people from Australia, United States of America, New Zealand and Canada, who had rich experience in Broadway performances!

We did not see Abu, the monkey but Aladdin had three new boisterous friends with him as well as Jafar's lackey, Iago (Doron Chester), Babkak (Troy Sussman), Omar (Adam Di Martino) and Kassim (Rob Mallett)

The show would not be successful with just the cast, it takes a village to make it run successfully! From the props, choreography, constumes, photography, stage production, music, make-up (the list goes on). I was privileged to be granted a backstage tour and had glimpse of what was going behind the scene.

Not only the sets were glittery! I was seated right on the third level but the sparkles on the constumes were so bright that my eyes were set on them as they sparkled and gleamed under the lights, following every movement of the casts.



The 337 glittering costumes, featured 1,225 different types of fabrics, 712 different styles of beads and what made the costumes shimmer? It was the almost close to 500,000 Swarovski crystals sewn onto the costumes! I was totally in love with Princess Jasmine and the palace maids' costumes and the dazzling effect it produced!

Just this piece as shown below weighed at least 5kg! Imagine, some of the casts had to wear and dance in this heavy costume. Some of these exquisite costumes were hand sewn with crystals, beadings, sequins and some were even embroidered to ensure the best effect is given when worn. The backstage tour was indeed an eye-opening experience for me!

Costume that weighs a minimum 5kg

You read the books, watched the movie on screens, you have to watch the musical and hear it LIVE! With the only and final stop in Asia, right in Singapore, this broadway hit is NOT TO BE MISSED! The show is running will 1 Sept 2019, get your tickets now and be sure to get the seats nearer to the stage to have a better experience!

Click HERE to get your tickets to Disney Aladdin.
Venue: Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands
10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore
Dates: 21 July - 1 September 2019
Timings: Tuesday - Friday: 3pm; Saturdays: 2pm & 7.30pm; Sundays: 1pm & 6.30pm
Tickets starting from $68.

Thank you, Base Entertainment for the splendid evening!

Thank you for reading and if you would like to stay tune for future updates, do follow me on:     

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