CANON competition

Dearest readers, I think you all know about the CANON competition that had been held for people who love being creative yes? =))

The winning prize is a camera from CANON and since I LOVE CANON, I'm definitely joining it.

But most importantly, i need the help from you guys and that is to place your votes for me yes?? you can vote for me every single day. hehehe!! :)

TO VOTE, PLEASE GO TO http://goto.canon.com.sg/ixus100is/#/stylebook/vote/

GO PAGE 17 AND LOOK FOR NUMBER 838 TO VOTE FOR baby!!!!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

*ANOTHER GOOD NEWS IS, BESIDE THE WINNER FOR THE MOST VOTES CAN WIN THE CAMERA, THE VOTERS STAND A CHANCE TO WIN TOO!! SO START VOTING FOR ME NOW!! :)

Wait no further! Go to http://goto.canon.com.sg/ixus100is/#/stylebook/vote/ NOW!!! :)

More people going on holiday - random thoughts

Oh wow... Just heard a friend is going Germany for 1.5 months. Wow! That's pretty long... Oh well, I just have to wait my turn to go overseas. Hahaha

Well, I guess I just have to wait my turn...lol... My cousin is studying at university in Germany. She needs to learn german before she can study there. Can u imagine? A total foreign language. So I guess that's why she has to be smart.:D

Oh well, I have something to look forward to. I am going to bring family to Hippo tours! Could that be really fun? I hope so! I never tried it before! Well, fingers crossed! Well, another school of thought is that u can make an event which seems boring, fun! Well, something like being an influencer and not just a follower (if it is boring). U know what I mean? Anyway, if you don't, then never mind. I won't really bother explaining as it doesn't really matter. :)

Holiday!

Seems like people around us are going for holidays overseas. I want one too! Some people say don't bring baby overseas too young, but I have friends who bring their baby overseas even at the age of 2 mths! Well, hopefully we can bring him out at age 1 yrs plus. Time flies, so I guess before I know it, he may be one year old already... hahaha Anyway, that's probably one of the little sacrifices we have as a parent, cannot travel so much. But it is fine, I willingly do it for BB!! Wei da or not? LOL! :D

Where would I wanna go? Perhaps either Malaysia or Aussie land? Hmmm... these 2 places seem pretty appealing to me at the moment. Just have to wait for him to be at least 1 year plus. And have to plan logistics too! U noe, pram, BB's bag, diapers, cereal. It's like moving house whenever it comes to baby's stuff! hahaha

baby activities

I realise this blog is turning out to be my blog more than baby's blog... hahaha

Well, it's not that he is out of sight, out of mind. It is just that there are other things to blog about too...:P

Things he can do lately:
1. Wave to people;
2. Say bye-bye with his hands;
3. go boo-boo before he sleeps;
4. Poo and then smile after that;
5. Sing himself to sleep;
6. Crawl a bit more, but it looks like he is swimming.
7. Smile when we are 'scolding' him;
8. Switch channels on his own. haha

Well, he is easy to look after at most times and likes to keep himself busy. Are all babies like that? :)

Boost brain power!

Remember to makan more vitamin D so that u will not get mid-life crisis or fall into depression. Heard of someone falling into depression recently and went to IMH to seek treatment. Hope this will help people out there! Think of positive things! :D

If you think driving will get you down becoz of the not-so-good drivers out there, don't think so much about them, but think of what are the things u are looking forward to!

Vitamin D boosts brain power in middle-aged men
AFP
AFP - Thursday, May 21

WASHINGTON (AFP) - - Higher levels of vitamin D, synthesized in the skin after being exposed to the sun and found in oily fish, are associated with increased brain power among middle-aged men, according to a new British study.
ADVERTISEMENT

The link between increased vitamin D and faster information processing "was more significant in men aged over 60 years old, although the biological reasons for this remain unclear," read the report, to appear in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Manchester, in collaboration with other European specialists, compared the cognitive performance of more than 3,000 men between the ages of 40 and 79 years.

Men with higher levels of vitamin D "performed consistently better in a simple and sensitive neuropsychological test that assesses an individual's attention and speed of information processing," the study showed.

Resarchers "observed a significant, independent association between a slower information processing speed and lower levels of vitamin D," said lead author David Lee at Manchesters School of Translational Medicine.

The study is based on a large population sample and took into account other possible factors, such as depression, season and levels of physical activity.

The main source of vitamin D is 10 to 15 minutes daily exposure to sunlight. Oily fish are also an excellent source of vitamin D.

A separate 2008 study by researchers in Amsterdam showed that a lack of vitamin D could increase the risk of depression or other psychiatric problems among older people.

Restaurant city

Had a super busy weekend this week...

Anyway, photos are going to be loaded soon! Watch out for them!

Hmmm... Why do people like to play Restaurant city on facebook during their free time? Do they like to open their own restaurant in the future? Hahaha I think it is pretty interesting to make your friends 'work' when u employ them and give them 'food' and then exchange food, but it may get too repetitive after some time. Isn't it the same as work? :)

The things I want to do with my family!

Things I would like to do with my family right now are to go to Singapore flyer and go to the Hippo Tour!

Well, why Singapore flyer? Heard many things about it! The view is so scenic from above. Well, I have heard a company that my friend worked for actually brought all their staff and their families to go to have an outing to the Flyer! I believe this created unity for them! Well, I am sure many companies do that too as a form of R & R (Rest and relaxation). It must be pretty exciting for them. Personally I have been to Sydney tower, Baiyoke tower in Thailand, but not the Singapore flyer! So really looking forward to a trip there.:)

Have u been to the Hippo Tour before? I haven't! So planning to check it out!:p The first and Original Amphibious themed attraction in Asia. DUCKtours offers a combined City and Harbour tour without the hassle of switching craft. Some relatives from overseas can check out the sights with us on this interesting tour. It is a fantastic way of bringing them around!

Start planning for your own Family Day Out on 30 May 2009! Visit www.nfc.sg!

Random post about being tall & stuffs

I saw the Mediacorp actress, Felicia Chin last weekend. I was outside the toilet cubicles and said hi to her and asked her if she wants to go in as there was a free cubicle. She said I could go in first... Well, she was pretty tall and pretty with her make up on and very slim! I guess all the actresses need to be slim because they need to be in front of the camera and need to look good all the time. If I stand in front of the camera, I will probably look fat even though I am not that fat. Hmmm.. There must be something about cameras that make us look so unflattering! hahaha

Well, BB is going to be a tall toddler I can imagine...Now, he is wearing large size diapers and wearing 12 mths clothes although he is only 8 mths! hahaha He has almost lost all his baby fat and now we can see his neck! :D

Perks of motherhood

by Poon Chian Hui

Some women may bemoan the sacrifices they have to make for motherhood but some experts have found that becoming a mum may be more rewarding than one expects. For one, it may make you smarter.

A study in the United States last November found that mother rats performed better on learning and memory tests than female rats that have not had babies. Led by Professor Craig Kinsley of the University of Richmond, a key finding was that the mother rats had new clusters of brain cells.

"Oestrogen is the feel-good hormone for women. It also gives pregnant women a glow."

Dr Helen Chen, head of the mental wellness service at KK Women's and Children's Hospital
Dr Cornelia Chee, a consultant at the department of psychological medicine at the National University Hospital (NUH), reasoned that this phenomenon of neuroplasticity - where the brain reorganises itself by forming new neural links - could be due to the fact that mothers need to ensure the survival of their offspring.

'The mother rats need to be better at finding and bringing back food, so some aspects of learning is enhanced by motherhood,' said Dr Chee, who is also the director of the women's emotional health service at NUH. She added that these rewards of motherhood could be applicable to humans too.

Her view is similar to that of Ms Katherine Ellison, an American journalist and author of The Mommy Brain: How Motherhood Makes Us Smarter, in which she detailed how studies have shown that motherhood improves perception, resilience, efficiency, motivation and emotional intelligence in women.

Also, some of the hormones that increase during pregnancy are associated with better mental well-being. Oestrogen, which tends to enhance mood, climbs gradually during pregnancy and peaks during birth, said Dr Chee.

Dr Helen Chen, the head of the mental wellness service at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, agrees.

'Oestrogen is the feel-good hormone for women,' she said. 'It also gives pregnant women a glow.' This glow refers to their more radiant complexion and shinier hair.

However, both doctors pointed out that while oestrogen may have positive effects, it is subjected to the intricate network of hormones and brain chemicals. For instance, serotonin also regulates mood and low levels of serotonin may reduce the feel-good effects of oestrogen.

Breastfeeding is rewarding due partly to the hormone oxytocin which is released in spurts. It has a relaxing effect on mothers which helps to reduce tension and stress and cement the mother-child bond, doctors explained. They added that breastfeeding also helps mothers to lose weight faster and cut their risk of breast cancer.

The good news is that these positive effects do not end once you stop breastfeeding. 'Women who have stopped breastfeeding can have high levels of oxytocin when they touch, look and spend time with their baby,' said Dr Chee.

Another class of chemicals that come into play are stress hormones. While pregnant women experience higher levels of hormones that are associated with stress - namely cortisol and adrenaline - it is not all that bad, said Dr Chen.

'Stress is only bad when it's excessive and occurs over a prolonged period,' she explained. Otherwise, this strain can be eustress or healthy stress, which gives one a sense of fulfilment and stimulate one's psychological growth, she said.

The downside is when hormonal effects spiral out of control. 'Some women are particularly susceptible to the hormonal effects of mood and anxiety,' said Dr Chee. 'In some cases, this anxiety can take a life of its own.'

The result may be perinatal mood and anxiety disorders like depression. Dr Chen estimates that about 10 per cent of women suffer from depression during pregnancy.

To combat excessive stress, she advises mothers-to-be to plan well for the birth, get enough rest, exercise to relax and avoid habits like drinking coffee and smoking. Seek support from family and friends and do not hesitate to get professional help if you feel constantly down, she added.

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times.

Someone sent me this article. Oh no, am I supposed to have a good memory? Sometimes, I feel memory is not good enough, that's why I have to write everything down. Some people say I look better after pregnancy, so I am not sure whether they are talking about the glow they see in me. Anyway, it is definitely important to relax after a day's work and not think about work when it is time to relax. Well, at times, my brain works overtime and I get nightmares, but I trust and know that things are taken care of, as I should not worry about tomorrow, as tomorrow will take care of itself. Nowadays, if there are things to be done today, I will do them today and not tomorrow.

SU outing

Last week, we went to Taglio, it is a restaurant that is located at Central shopping centre on the first floor. We went there to go for a SU hangout. There was fun, laughter and food. Hmmm... basically we had Italian pasta and pizza and we had calamari and wedges as well as appertisers. Well, we had free flow of ice lemon tea and to top off the dinner, we also had brownies with ice cream and root beer float! Yummy! We had different types of pizza like mushroom, chicken, vegetable, pineapple with ham and pastas with mushroom cream and meat. I like the mushroom pasta and the brownie (Although I try not to have too much sugar). Anyway, I shared the brownie with hubby. So, that was fine. hahaha We shared everything among the 7 of us. They had a ala carte dinner menu from Mondays to Thursdays. It was quite a cool concept as they are thinking of doing deliveries soon. So, if we want any pizza parties, we can always give them a call! Well, pictures have to be loaded later as I did not save the pics out of the camera! Hahaha Will do that soon!:D

Oh yes! The interesting thing is, the boss, attended to us at the door when we were looking and deciding on what to eat. He is very friendly and he explained to us the concept of the place so on and so forth. Although not the first, TAGLIO employs teenagers who are still seeking for the right direction and according to him, part of the profits actually go to Yong-En Care Centre, a community service that the boss is very actively involved.

It's a pretty interesting to set up a place with a goal in mind. But of course, it is also important to have good food too!:)

What we did for mother's day celebration

Well, BB did not exactly celebrate mother's day with me, as you know he doesn't know how to talk yet as he is just 8 months. Nevertheless, he did give me a huge teddy bear hug, so he did indicate that he did love his mummy. hahaha Well, we celebrated mother's day for two mothers that weekend. What a busy weekend!

We went to the House of Paranakan at the Pan Pacific Orchard Hotel for dinner. They have paranakan food. The owner of the place went into this business because he wanted people to try real paranakan food and to preserve their paranakan culture... We had yummy otak, detectable oluah, orhiong, duck soup and spinach with blachan. If I spell the foods incorrectly, please forgive me. Hahaha BB is partially paranakan, because his dad's grandma is a nonya. I guess nonya food is made famous nowadays by the show "The Little Nonya". Bakeries like Bangawan Solo gets booming business because the show as well. People begin to realise that Nonya culture is very rich and also the foods are very yummy. hahaha Rating the place: 9 stars out of 10 stars

Then the next celebration is at mum-in-law's place. We had BBQ for dinner, alfresco style! It was under the twilight that we had dinner. hahaha Hubby was one of the chief chefs of the night, as he cooked up a storm consisting of seafood and other stuffs. I liked the salad and the seafood. Rating the food: 10 stars out of 10 stars Is it because I don't have to sleep on the couch tonight? hahaha Just kidding!:D

Taking Care of Baby: Cutting Nails

Because your baby's fingernails grow very quickly and your baby can easily scratch himself or herself, file or cut the nails about twice a week. Your baby's toenails don't grow as quickly. You can probably get away with cutting them a couple of times a month. Just watch out for any jagged edges that you may need to trim.

Whether you opt for baby scissors or a nail file is up to you. Considering the tiny size of your baby's nails, decide which one you're most comfortable using. Filing generally runs less of a risk that you'll cut your baby's skin. Never bite off your baby's nails -- you could give your baby an infection.

Here are some tips to make cutting your baby's nails easier:

Cut your baby's nails after a bath, when they're softer. Sometimes it helps to trim a baby's nails when the baby is asleep and relaxed.
If you use scissors or a nail clipper, press the skin under the nail down so you can get to the nail more easily. It may help to have your partner hold the baby's hand steady the first few times so you can concentrate on cutting.
Trim your baby's fingernails following the natural curve of the nail. Cut toenails straight across.
Use a nail file after clipping to smooth any jagged edges.
If you accidentally nip your baby's skin with the scissors, apply gentle pressure with a tissue or piece of gauze. Use a tiny bit of ointment on the cut. Don't put on a Band-Aid because your baby could choke on it.
(Extracted from WebMD)

Personally, my mother-in-law cuts BB's nails most. This is because I am not used to cutting his nails. There was one time, his nail was ingrown, until the finger turned green literally! Thus, it is important not to cut too deep. We went to the PD and she use a needle to poke that area and all the puss from that area oozed out, then we had some anticeptic cream to apply for a few days afterwards. It was alarming because it was the first time I saw part of a finger turn green. Hope this guide helps whoever who wanna cut a baby's nails:)

How to bathe newborn babies

The most important thing to remember about bath time is to never leave your baby's side. Babies can slide down and quickly become submerged in even a few inches of water. Using a baby bath seat is no assurance that your baby will be safe in the tub. Many seats can easily tip over. If you need to leave the room, wrap your baby in a towel and bring your baby with you.

Here are tips for giving your baby a tub bath:

Put the washcloth, soap, and shampoo -- everything you'll need for the bath -- close by. That way, you don't have to leave the room once your baby is in the tub. Also, lay out your baby's diaper and clothes where you can easily reach them after the bath.
Fill the tub with two to three inches of water. The bath should be warm, but not hot. To be sure the water is the right temperature, test it first with your elbow. Make sure your water heater is set to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit so that you can't accidentally scald your baby.
Wash your baby's face gently with a wet washcloth. Use a wet cotton ball or washcloth (no soap) to clean your baby's eyes and face. Wipe from the inside of each eye to the outside. Make sure you get any dried crust out of your baby's nose and eyes.
Soap the washcloth (use a gentle, no-tears baby soap or wash) and clean your baby's body from top to bottom and front to back. Make sure you clean inside all of the little folds. Wash the diaper area last.
Fill a cup with water to wet your baby's hair. Put a small amount of no-tears baby shampoo on your baby's head. Rub in a gentle circular motion. Keep your baby's head tilted back so the shampoo doesn't run into your baby's eyes.
Fill the cup again with clean water to rinse your baby's hair and body.
When lifting your baby out of the tub, support your baby's bottom with one hand and your baby's head and neck with the other. Make sure you have a firm hold so your baby doesn't slide away.
You don't need to use lotion, but you can apply it after the bath if your baby's skin is especially dry.
After the bath, wrap your baby in a towel and gently pat your baby dry.

Swimming picture of baby

BB loves the holding the ball in the swimming pool!

What to do for Mother's day?

There is a list of things we can do for mother's day.

1. Invite her out for a meal/cook her a nice dish.

2. Treat her for a spa or facial

3. Give a nice present that she was hoping for.

5. To draw a nice card for her.

6. Give her a hug and a kiss.:)

Best job in the world?

CANBERRA, May 6 - Reuters- British charity fundraiser Ben Southall won the "best job in the world" on Wednesday -- caretaker of an Australia tropical island -- after an innovative marketing campaign that highlighted the power of social media.

Southall, 34, was picked from 16 final contestants in a highly publicised contest by Tourism Queensland which attracted 34,684 video entries from almost 200 countries and surpassed all expectations in promoting tourism in the Australian state.

The job description? Explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef for six months and report back to Tourism Queensland and the world via blogs, a photo diary, video updates and interviews.

Also, if you feel like it, feed the fish, collect the mail and clean the pool -- and collect a wage of A$150,000

Why do some people think that the above job description is the best job in the world?? I mean if you are a swimmer but you don't like nature like the floral and fauna, it would be havoc for you right? I am not saying I don't like nature, but what I am trying to say that different people will have different opinions as to whether it is the best job in the world.

For me, I guess one of the best jobs in the world is to care for baby. He is soo cute and adorable. In the past, the irritating thing he will do is to try to let mummy drink 'tea' by peeing at my face when I just remove his diaper! It was a shock at times and when I was not used to it, I used to let out a little shriek... Hahaha Sometimes, I think it is change of temperature when his diaper comes off, that's why he pees when that happens. hmmm... or could it be that the diaper is tight, so when the diaper is loose, he will just let go? But when he smiles after he pees at me, all is forgiven! hahaha

How to Fight Depression Naturally!

By brownidegrl, eHow Member
Step 1

Exercise. This is probably the number one natural recommendation to help fight depression. It is also most likely the number one thing that you don't feel like doing! Exercise helps depression and anxiety by releasing our "happy" hormones and brain chemicals. You might want to try an exercise class, a nice run outside (or inside on a treadmill), a long walk, or yoga. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes.

Step 2

Get outside. Sunlight is a great spirit booster. Combine fresh air and sunlight along with a nice long walk or run, you are on your way to feeling much better.

Step 3

Avoid negative or depressed people. It is true that misery loves company. When you are around negative or depressed people, they tend to bring you down too. Next thing you know, you are feeling depressed too! If you are already blue, don't depend on these types of friends to pick you up. Hang around happy, positive people. They will be a great boost for you.

Step 4

Talk to someone. I know, I know, I know. When we are depressed, we just want to be left alone. However, we have to find the strength and convince ourselves that we NEED to talk to someone. MAKE YOURSELF seek out a friend (not an unhappy one!) and talk to them. Sometimes you feel better just getting your thoughts off of your chest. Sometimes, you put your thoughts out there and you realize just how foolish they really are!

Step 5

St. John's Wort. This is an herbal remedy that works for many people. It's definitely worth a try. I have known people to go completely off of anti-depressants and do just fine on St. John's Wort.

Step 6

If you decide to go off of your anti-depressant, speak to your doctor about this. If and when you do decide to stop it, you should wean yourself off of it. Going off of it cold turkey can cause your depression to worsen. You can reduce your pill to a half for period of time, working your way off of them. If you can't cut them, try going to every other day. However, I would consult my doctor and be firm--let him or her know that you plan to go off of them. Please make sure that you have an alternate plan in place.

Step 7

Rest. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep at night. If you are suffering from insomnia, you should know that this could greatly contribute to your depression. Do something about the insomnia and then work on the depression. There are lots of suggestions on the internet to help improve your sleep habits.

Step 8

Read the Bible. The Bible has many prayers and positive messages to help to get us through hard times. Psalms is full of prayers of great people who sought God's help in troubled times and believed that He would help. Proverbs is full of great lessons.

Step 9

Don't let others get you down. I have often heard of depression as being "anger turned inwards." Which means that when we become angry or upset with someone or something, we turn that anger on ourselves. What we should do is get our feelings out in the open and not let those things destroy us personally. Talk to others about how their actions make you feel, talk to a therapist, pray for others, or write them a letter expressing your true feelings (but you may not want to mail it). Sometimes just writing down our feelings helps us to feel much better.

Step 10

Journal. As an extension to the last sentence in the previous paragraph, it really does help to write our feelings down. I have often sat at the computer for an hour, typing away, just getting my thoughts off of my chest. Be totally open and honest. It is quite liberating as it transfers those feelings from you to the document. If you don't want anyone to read your journal entries, there is a way to save it so that you need a password to open it. However, just typing it or writing it and then deleting it will help too!

Step 11

Learn about herbal supplements. They have been found to work for many people.

Step 12

Music. Turn on the music, crank it up, and dance if you feel like it!!! Try some upbeat music, inspirational music, or oldies--anything that will lift your spirits! And we all know that it is always good to move around so let your body move to the beat!!!

Step 13

Love yourself. Love yourself so much that you won't allow yourself to turn your anger inward. You are good and valuable and you deserve love. If you love yourself and you know that God loves you, you can then be capable of receiving love! In turn, you become more lovable!

Step 14

Pray. The best person that you can talk to is God. He listens. Talk to Him as if you were talking to a friend (He IS our friend). Tell Him what is on your heart and ask for His help. If you trust and believe, He will help you. Maybe it won't be in the form that you want or expect, but He will answer.

Remember no matter what God loves you as you are. Everyone has troubles, but the secret is how you respond to those troubles. Take one step at the time and smell the roses out there. So don't give up on yourself and start living with a joyful heart! :)

2 Year Old Mensa Genius

Elise Tan Roberts is the youngest member of Mensa with an IQ of 156 at age 2. She can recite the phonetic alphabet, count to ten in Spanish and name 35 capital cities. The average IQ in the population at large is 100.



by theAsianparent.com Team

Do you think your child can be a genius? Well, I do not mind that he grows normally, as long as he is the correct values nutured in him, it is fine with me. Above is an interesting video. Check it out!:)

Ooh fun time during the weekend

We were thinking of going somewhere for dinner on the weekend, thinking of going to my in laws place, but hubby doesn't like porridge and they were cooking porridge... Anyway we thought it was boring to go to the usual places for dinner. Guess where we went?

We ended up going to Tampines 1 for dinner! U know, there were quite a number of choices for dinner. We wanted to go to Manpuku Japanese Town, but there was a super long queue, so we decided to go up to another level to check out if there were anything else. Apparently, there was Sushi Teh, Thai Express, F.I.S.H. and Dian Xiao Er on the same level. We settled for Dian Xiao Er as there was no queue. The dishes there were really healthy. We had 2 vegetables, 1 meat dish and a dessert for each person. We put BB on the baby chair even though he couldn't eat but one of the things he likes is to be at the same eye level with us so we thought it was a pretty good option. Amazingly, he could sit there for the duration of our dinner minus the desert. Wow... what an accomplishment! So he had extra kisses from mummy that night! :P

There were many shops in the shopping centre with discounts to attract customers to their stores. I was looking into UNIQLO. It was really like a big departmental store selling clothes. They are from Japan and they sell casual wear. They brand it as "timeless pieces of apparel to help an individual enhance their unique persona". Wow! Sounds cheem! hahaha Heard my cousin-in-law went there to buy shirts, probably will see him wearing them soon...hahaha

What is interesting about the place is that there's a Disney store there! I haven't seen a disney store for ages! I remember there was some Looney Tunes store at Takashimaya ages ago, but not a Disney store. I could be wrong... but anyway it was quite fun to see a Disney store after so long. :) They sell disney bedsheets, pillows, mugs, etc... in fact everything with disney prints on them! hahaha :D

Random thoughts

1. You cannot choose which baby you want to have and what sort of character he is going to be, but you can choose how to nurture his talent and mode of discipline;

2. You cannot choose what kind of sleeping habits BB is going to have; but you can intro things to help him sleep and at what timing so you may have more me-time;

3. You can choose what kind of activities to plan for him during the day but you cannot guarantee whether he will like it or not.

Anyway, we subscribe to starhub cable tv and it helps to keep him entertained for a while as we have disney channel and cartoon network. Seeing him watching tv and laughing at what program is on is sooo funny. Sometimes, he laughs at everything that is funny to him. Just the other day, we were at Watsons and he was laughing at the salesgirl for at least 10 minutes... hahaha Then the salesgirl laughed together with him. I think it may have made the salesgirl's day too.. hahaha

Facts which I know about Star Trek and its casts

Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. The Star Trek fictional universe created by Gene Roddenberry is the setting of six television series including the original 1966 Star Trek, in addition to ten feature films with an eleventh completed to be released on May 8, 2009.

* Chris Pine as James T. Kirk. Pine described his first audition as awful, because he could not take himself seriously as a leader. Abrams did not see Pine's first audition, and it was only after Pine's agent met Abrams' wife that the director decided to give him another audition opposite Quinto. Quinto was supportive of Pine's casting because they knew each other as they worked out at the same gym. After getting the part, Pine sent William Shatner a letter and received a reply containing the original Kirk's approval. Pine watched classic episodes and read encyclopedias about the Star Trek universe, but stopped as he felt weighed down by feeling he had to copy Shatner. Pine felt he had to show Kirk's "humor, arrogance and decisiveness", but not Shatner's speech pattern, which would have bordered on imitation. Pine said when watching the original series, he was also struck by how Shatner's performance was characterized by humor. Instead, Pine chose to incorporate elements of Tom Cruise from Top Gun and Harrison Ford's portrayals of Indiana Jones and Han Solo.
o Jimmy Bennett plays James Kirk as a boy.

* Zachary Quinto as Spock. Quinto pursued the role as he was interested in the duality of Spock's half-human, half Vulcan heritage, and how "he is constantly exploring that notion of how to evolve in a responsible way and how to evolve in a respectful way. I think those are all things that we as a society, and certainly the world, could implement."For the audition, he wore a blue shirt and flattened his hair down to feel more like Spock. He bound his fingers to practice the Vulcan salute, shaved his eyebrows and grew and dyed his hair for the role. He conveyed many of Spock's attributes, such as his stillness and the way Nimoy would hold his hands behind his back. Quinto commented the physical transformation aided in portraying an alien, joking "I just felt like a nerd. I felt like I was 12 again. You look back at those pictures and you see the bowl cut. There's no question I was born to play the Spock role. I was sporting that look for a good four or five years." Adrien Brody had discussed playing the role with the director before Quinto was cast.
* Leonard Nimoy reprises his role as the old Spock, who has come from the future to provide help. Nimoy befriended Quinto after being cast in the role. Although Quinto watched some episodes of the show during breaks in filming, Nimoy was his main resource in playing Spock. Abrams and the writers met Nimoy at his house; Orci recalled the actor gave a "'Who are you guys and what are you up to?' vibe" before being told how important he was to them. He was silent, and Nimoy's wife Susan Bay told the creative team he had remained in his chair after their conversation, emotionally overwhelmed by his decision after turning down many opportunities to revisit the role. Had Nimoy disliked the script, production would have been delayed for it to be rewritten. He was "genuinely excited" by the script's scope and its detailing of the characters' backstories, saying, "We have dealt with [Spock being half-human, half-Vulcan], but never with quite the overview that this script has of the entire history of the character, the growth of the character, the beginnings of the character and the arrival of the character into the Enterprise crew." Abrams said "it was surreal to direct him as Spock, because what the hell am I doing there? This guy has been doing it for forty years. It's like 'I think Spock would...'"
o Jacob Kogan plays Spock as a child.

* Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy. Like Pine, Urban said of taking on the role that "it is a case of not doing some sort of facsimile or carbon copy, but really taking the very essence of what DeForest [Kelley] has done and honoring that and bringing something new to the table". Urban has been a fan of the show since he was seven years old and actively pursued the role after rediscovering the series on DVD with his son. Urban was cast at his first audition, which was two months after his initial meeting with Abrams. He said he was happy to play a role with lots of comedy, something he had not done since The Price of Milk, because he was tired of action-oriented roles. When asked why McCoy is so cantankerous, Urban joked the character might be a "little bipolar actually!" Orci and Kurtzman had collaborated with Urban on Xena: Warrior Princess, in which he played Caesar.


I wanna to catch the movie because my hubby and I simply love watching science fi movies! We need some couple time together, so this is a very good excuse to catch this movie since we love it so much. Good excuse for other couples to have couple time away for their kids. In fact, this movie is for singles too and anyone who likes sci-fi movies, not limited to certain age group at all. The write up can be found in wiki.

The sound effects sound so real! The trailers look so exciting! Catch Star Trek in cinemas on May 7!

First time in the pool! Whee! :)

It was such an eventful day! We went to Bugis Iluma for lunch and we had a very good deal as they had some credit card promo that gave a free appertiser. Cool right? BB was trying to tear the pages out of a little booklet we pass to him to entertain him with in the restaurant. He succeeded after a few tries. Are we training his motor skills? hahaha Lucky it was not an important document. Anyway, I guess they do not have any kids store open there, so it is not so fantastic for our dear BB. But he was facinated by the sights and sounds nonetheless. Our friends were having some bridal road show there on the public holiday. The pictures were so pretty! Reminds me of our wedding pictures when we got married. :)

We went swimming at our relatives' condominium. It was the first time BB was going inside a swimming pool! First timer!!! hahaha He wasn't exactly swimming. Do you know what he was doing? He was basically relaxing in there. He was on a ring float and sat back on the back rest and had his legs crosslegged in the water!! Whee!!! So fun!!! Hahaha He really knows how to relax man! People say that babies still remember the times they were in the mum's belly. Their surroundings were filled with water and so they are really comfortable in that environment. So I can imagine him sitting crosslegged in my belly too. After all that swimming, he was really tired, so he slept earlier than usual. What a fulfiling day for BB! :)