We live in a flat

Process art with very organic beginnings

On March 19, 2022

I observed Little P with his little spray bottle and a nylon bristle that apparently came out of his hard bristle broom for the balcony. He kept using it to scratch (?) , stroke(?) , tickle(?) various surfaces that he said he was cleaning.

I suppose I could reiterate and show him how to clean using a spray bottle and a cleaning cloth or squeegee or whatever you like to use in your family. But I felt his interest lies more in experimenting with the strip of nylon bristle that he found.

I suppose I could let him just continue with his experiments at cleaning, but the way he is doing it is definitely not the way I would like him to clean. So I thought about how I could redirect his interest in the nylon bristle and I came up with painting as the answer.

Process art using a nylon bristle

And thus, here are the art materials: one nylon bristle (on the paper), one drawing paper, water and paint. The spray bottle is for cleaning up afterwards.

The process art materials used in our art session inspired by a nylon fibre. One nylon fibre (on the paper), one drawing paper, water and paint. The spray bottle is for cleaning up afterwards. — The art materials used in our art session inspired by a nylon fibre.

4 Chinese Picture Books About Visiting the Dentist - NLB books review header

4 Dentist Books in Chinese – NLB books review

By weliveinaflat

On March 12, 2022

In Imaginative Chinese Books, Library books (NLB) reviewed, Montessori-aligned Chinese books

Library Books Review #2 – Dentist books in Chinese

I find it hard to navigate our public library, especially when I’m looking for Montessori-aligned toddler books, in this case Dentist books in Chinese. So I am trying to keep track of the library books I borrowed that I recommend here on this blog. Hope it will be useful for your reference as well. For context, my toddler is around 3 years old. The posts will cover a mix of English and Mandarin books.

I included links to Amazon so you can buy at your convenience the English and Chinese versions of the books (where available). I get a tiny commission when you click through the links and make a purchase. It doesn’t increase your cost on Amazon but it does help you give me a tiny “tip” so to speak, which eventually accumulates enough to treat me to a coffee or two. :P

Now, let’s get started!

2022 Crufts Freestyle Heelwork To Music Competition

By weliveinaflat

On March 11, 2022

In Training

The other day I was remarking to Mr P that the only “sporting” event I watch somewhat consistently has got to be Freestyle Heelwork to Music or what I like to call simply dog dancing.

Little P’s entrance into our lives meant that I had to miss the livestream. We try to keep a screenfree environment for our toddler (as much as possible anyway) so the television has literally become a piece of background decor ever since he was born. Thankfully, Crufts has made available replays of the competition so I could still catch that when Little P is in kindergarten in the mornings. :)

dog watching crufts 2022 Day 1 heelwork to music competition

Missed Miscarriage & Coping with Grief

By weliveinaflat

On October 16, 2021

In General Health

By the end of this year the world would have been trying to live with Covid-19 for 2 or close to 2 years now (depending on your location). I think we have lots of good reasons not to turn up, whether it’s to meet up with friends, be there for family or even just to turn up on social media. And these are reasons, people may not necessarily talk about or tell you. Not because they don’t think your are important and are just ghosting on you but that sometimes it’s just too painful to think or talk about them. Things like, depression, anxiety or in my case miscarriage.

This was an eventful year and not in a good way.

A lot of things were happening for us from the start of the year and Donna’s surgery was only one of them. At that time we were also going through the IVF process in hopes of a second child. I remember telling the nurse taking my blood to check if I was pregnant that I think this round will end up in failure because I was so stressed over getting a blood donor for Donna and also over Donna’s condition in general.

So you can imagine our joy when we found out that we got pregnant after all. I had still kept all of baby P’s toys and clothes, etc so I didn’t think I had that much work to prepare for Baby 2 this time round. I did order some books to prepare Baby P for the arrival of the new sibling.

And then one day in the middle of the year, I started bleeding.

Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Staycation with a two-year-old

By weliveinaflat

On October 9, 2021

In Explore

We booked ourselves an overnight staycation at Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa with our two-year-old. There was going to be minor renovation works at home. So a staycation would make things more fun until the dust at home settled… Haha.

When I told Little P we were doing a staycation, which meant we would not be sleeping at home. Little P’s first question was, “那里有没有冷气？” (Is there air conditioning where we are staying at?) Little P’s priorities are so different from mine. Haha.

Anyway here is the first view of our lovely suite… with text all over it to mar the view like those China overlay-comment videos. 🤭

View of attached lounge in one of Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa's suite rooms. Amenities are labelled for easier understanding of what's available in the living area during our staycation with our toddler. — View of attached lounge in one of Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa’s suite rooms. Amenities are labelled for easier understanding of what’s available in the living area. Towards the end of this blog post you will find more photos of the suite room lounge and also the master bath.

Baby’s First Walking Shoes – how to choose & when you need to replace

By weliveinaflat

On October 3, 2021

In Baby, Child Health (0-3 years), Shopping

First thing first, we did not set out to get blue shoes for Baby P’s first baby walking shoes and all his other shoes that came after that. But because baby P had rather large feet for his age and other specific considerations I had which I will elaborate in this post, we somehow ended up with this spread of entirely blue pairs of shoes that you see in the photo. Oh well.

Baby's First Walking Shoes - how to choose & when you need to replace

So, about baby shoes, we start by understanding that:

6 Montessori-aligned toddler library books: Aug 2021

By weliveinaflat

On September 25, 2021

In Library books (NLB) reviewed

Library Books Review #1

I find it hard to navigate our public library, especially when I’m looking for Montessori-aligned toddler books in Mandarin. So moving forward, Í will keep track of the Montessori-aligned books I borrowed that I recommend here on this blog. Hope it will be useful for your reference as well. For context, my toddler is around 2.5 years old. The posts will cover a mix of English and Mandarin books.

I included links to Amazon so you can buy at your convenience the English and Chinese versions of the books (where available). I get a tiny commission when you click through the links and make a purchase. It doesn’t increase your cost on Amazon but it does help you give me a tiny “tip” so to speak, which eventually accumulates enough to treat me to a coffee or two. :P

Now, let’s get started!

6 Montessori-aligned toddler library books reviewed banner

1. 高高兴兴说再见 (Bye-Bye Time)

高高兴兴说再见 book cover. This book is translated from Bye-Bye Time by Elizabeth Verdick — **高高兴兴说再见** translated from **Bye-Bye Time** by Elizabeth Verdick

Leopard in Mumbai – Picture book review

By weliveinaflat

On September 24, 2021

In 3 - 6 years, 31 months -, Care of the environment, Montessori-aligned English books

What if a leopard escaped from a national park and headed into the city? Leopard in Mumbai seems to be a book written to answer this.

Leopard in Mumbai picture book cover. Written by Lubaina Bandukwala and illustrated by Allen Shaw. — Leopard in Mumbai. Written by Lubaina Bandukwala and illustrated by Allen Shaw.

小饼干的大道理 (Cookies: Bite-sized Life Lessons) – Book review

By weliveinaflat

On September 24, 2021

In 3 - 6 years, Imaginative Chinese Books, Imaginative English Books

小饼干的大道理 (Cookies: Bite-sized Life Lessons) seems to be that book that tries to help children understand abstract concepts through baking cookies.

Most of it might fly over the head of young toddlers like 2.5 year old Little P but we still like cookies anyway. Hah!

小饼干的大道理 is originally written in English by American author Amy Krouse Rosenthal. The book is titled Cookies: Bite-sized Life Lessons. — **小饼干的大道理** is originally written in English by American author Amy Krouse Rosenthal. The book is titled **Cookies: Bite-sized Life Lessons**.

Note: There are human-like animals in this book. Looking for realistic Montessori-aligned books instead? Escape here!
If not, read on. ;)

The following photos will help you understand the style of the book – 小饼干的大道理 (Cookies: Bite-sized Life Lessons) – as it follows the same format throughout.