Ben & Jerry’s ChunkFest 2013

Media Invite

This is the 6th year running for the Ben & Jerry’s ChunkFest, but it’s the first time for the Kuan Family.

Not sure how was the weather in the previous years, but this year the rain came just before the media event and sadly caused the event venue to be wet and muddy.

Despite the rain and muddy field, it did not deter the people to come, some even with babies on prams. Looks at number of people who turned up for the event. Wow!

(photo credit to the organisers)

The media invite was for us to have a peak view of the fun and also a chance to meet the various Fairness Partners, local social organisations and enterprises.

Blessings in A Bag
Blessings in a Bag is a non-profit project that seeks to partner with existing communities, orphanages, schools, homes as well as initiatives to provide for the needs of underprivileged, abused, and medically-ill children across Asia.
http://blessingsinabag.org/

Chris’ Cafe @ The Hub
Part of The HUB Singapore, a platform for people who use entrepreneurial ideas to create sustainable impact, Chris’ cafe also provide barista training for those looking to upgrade their skill sets and support various causes.
http://singapore.the-hub.net/space/chris-cafe/

I have to say, the coffee brewing was more than enough for me to do my part for charity! =)

Dyslexia Association of Singapore
The Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) promotes a fair playing field for children in their education – we provide professional support and remediation services to preschoolers and school-aged kids who have learning differences including dyslexia.
http://www.das.org.sg/

Kerbside Gourmet
Kerbside Gourmet is Singapore’s first gourmet food truck with a social vision. As a registered member of the Social Enterprise Association, Kerbside Gourmet aims to turn part of their profits to feed the less privileged in Singapore, operating on a “Buy-One-Give-One” model.
http://kerbsidegourmet.com/

One thing about all the Fairness Partners, they all exhibit eagerness to share their vision and always with a smile. So easily drawn to what they want to say. A great job everyone!

Project Happy Feet
Project Happy Feet is a non-profit organisation that empowers lives through education and training, so as to alleviate poverty. Run entirely by volunteers, Project Happy Feet supports numerous locally-managed education and training related programmes benefitting underprivileged children in Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam and Nepal through innovative fund-raising events like Project Happy Feet Slipper Race, a non-competitive 3-5km walk in slippers.
http://www.projecthappyfeet.org/

One of the parent who was with us testified the fantastic work done by Project Happy Feet as she too joined them before for the Slipper Race. I think I am very interested to know more of the Slipper Race and probably get my girls to be involved in the next one in Singapore.

No Ben & Jerry’s event is complete without their famous ice cream! And ChunkFest 2013 had a unique theme of ‘a little weird and A LOT fantastic’ to celebrate Ben & Jerry’s culture of fearless innovation which has produced countless innovative flavours full of wacky, out-of-this-world combinations. Ben & Jerry’s also introduced a new flavour to Singapore, Couch Potato, a wacky concoction that is both sweet and savory. This wacky offering is a chucky, funky concoction featuring vanilla bean ice cream with a salty caramel swirl & fudge covered potato chip clusters.

(photo credit to the organisers)

Look at how excited everyone was when it was ice cream time.

Momentarily we have all forgotten about the muddy field and wet shoes.

  

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About Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream and ice cream novelties, using high-quality ingredients including milk and cream from family farmers who do not treat their cows with the synthetic hormone rBGH. The company states its position on rBGH* on its labels. Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed nationwide and in selected foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues. Ben & Jerry’s, a Vermont corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Contributions made via the employee-led Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in 2012 totaled $1.8 million. Additionally, the company makes significant product donations to community groups and nonprofits both in Vermont and across the nation. The purpose of Ben & Jerry’s philanthropy is to support the founding values of the company: economic and social justice, environmental restoration and peace through understanding, and to support our Vermont communities. For the full scoop on all Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop locations and fabulous flavors, visit www.benjerry.com.

To learn more about Ben & Jerry’s Mission Statement or values led sourcing log on to www.benjerry.com.sg.

NTUC - A Whimsical U Picnic

A champion for working people to have strong and happy families.

Last year we missed the inaugural U Picnic due to an overseas trip, so this year when NTUC gave us a second chance to be involved, we grabbed it with much delight and gratitude. This year’s U Picnic was held at West Coast Park and there were quite a few things in line for everyone.

Seriously, I did not know what to expect. I mean I have been to West Coast Park before but the girls only stayed at the playground area and the nearby McDonald’s outlet. I cannot imagine how can hundreds of families gather at such a place to have a mass picnic together. This is how we did it, check the short clip below to witness probably one of the largest family picnic in Singapore with about 6,000 participants.

The registration was smooth and fast, thanks to the thoughtful organizers who really went the extra mile for the families.

Each family gets a picnic basket with lots of goodies like chips, nuts, paper fan, water, sweets, colouring papers, etc. Definitely worth it even if you have to pay $40 per ticket which admits 5 people.

As with previous year, the picnic aims to gather families for an evening of fun-filled activities. The key objectives are to advocate the building of strong happy families by championing work-life harmony.

This is especially true and important to our personal family. Kless and I believe that family bonding is built through time. Which is why we are always very grateful for organizers who invites us to attend events with the kids, this is our way of building that precious parent-child relationship with our two girls and at the same time introduce new things to them.

Just like this family picnic, we didn’t spend too much time queuing up for the free goodies like popcorn, candy floss, etc. What we did was just walking around the huge field, allowing the girls to do some handy-craft and simply enjoying a relax evening together.

 

  

The whimsical ladies taking a rest. They indeed garnered quite a huge following when in action.

There was also stage performance by one of the local band, Afterhours.

Stalls were set up for the kids like this candy stall which successfully took the girls’ attention away from their daddy.

The girls managed to play a game of blindfold, Joey gave the instructions to Jayne and helped Jayne find the key to save Daddy who is locked up a cage.

Joey checking with Jayne to ensure she knows the right and left directions correctly. Cute!

And both of them succeeded in their task. Papa is rescued. Yea!

 

We stayed till late in the night and watched the beautiful sunset together.

I love my family, my wife and 2 girls. Family time is LOVE.

Hasbro FURBY BOOM

Product Review

The new generation FURBY has returned with funky colours & more application interaction FURBLINGs. And thanks to Hasbro, the Kuan daughters have a chance to get their hands onto the ‘pink FURBY’, and boy were they excited!

 

FURBY, the animated electronic pet that could resonate with kids of today is back with the introduction of the all new, state-of-the-art, FURBY BOOM. Featuring all the ‘magic’ and personality of its predecessor plus twice the content, the new FURBY BOOM raises interactive fun to a whole new level by combining physical and digital play for an entertainment experience unlike any other toy in the market.

Complete with a ‘Mind of its Own’, the FURBY BOOM includes the ability for the girls to hatch digital FURBY babies called FURBLINGs via the all-new app which promises to take fans on a digital adventure using their mobile or tablet device as they raise, care for and play games with their playmate.

The new FURBY BOOM features an enhanced memory function that allows for individual FURBY BOOMs to remember their given name as well as the names of other FURBY BOOM friends, a feature that makes for an even greater intimate and social experience. As with its predecessor, the personality of each FURBY BOOM is shaped by how the girls play and interact with it, with the possibility of evolving into five brand new personalities. Owners can ‘get to know’ their new friend through all-new LCD eye animations that express the ‘emotions’ of one of the new personalities of the FURBY BOOM creature.

Download the free FURBY BOOM app to access a whole new dimension that has been added to this latest version. As owners play with and care for their FURBY BOOM friend they will earn colorful virtual eggs that in time will each hatch and become a FURBY baby called FURBLING, that will ‘live’ and ‘evolve’ within the app. The FURBY BOOM app is downloadable both on App Store and Google Play.

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Seriously, I don’t understand why the kids nowadays do not need us to teach them how to play such interactive games. I was searching for the instruction manual and before I know it, Joey has already turned on the FURBY BOOM app and playing along. Totally amazing!

  

It was quite a difficult task to stop them even for a moment for the ‘old man’ to take some photos.

Successfully hatched a FURBY egg and Joey named it ‘Way Boo’.

  

Collect over 50 eggs within the FURBY BOOM app and eventually build a FURBY BOOM city.

I can foresee the days ahead will be filled with excitement for both the girls as they watch their FURBLINGs grow up and learn how to tend to its needs. Bringing out that maternity instincts of the little ones.

 

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FURBY BOOM is priced at $119.90 and is available at Toys’R’Us, major department stores at Metro, OG & Takashimaya and selected Electronic stores at EpiCentre, EpiLife, Nubox, iStudio, etc.

Visit furby.com for more FURBY fun.