[Media Invite]

What is the weight of the largest quartz crystal ever found in the Alps? (answer will be revealed at the end of this post)

Largest quartz crystal found in the Alps

The only time I paid attention to details of gems and jewellery was when I was shopping for our wedding bands. It wasn't my style and character to wear or collect expensive jewellery. So a trip to the ArtScience Museum for its latest Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art and Science of Gems was eye-opening because I have never come so close to that many couture jewellery and gemstones in my life. This exhibition features over 450 pieces, carefully selected from the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection and those of private collectors, along with over 250 rare gems and minerals from the renowned collection of the French National Museum of Natural History.

I went for the exhibition like a child, eager to be amazed and to learn, and I did!



:: What is the Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art and Science of Gems about?
Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art and Science of Gems is not just an exhibition of jewellery and gems. It explores the inter-relationship between the science of mineralogy and the art of the finest jewellery and gems. If you think that your kids are not of age to appreciate such art, do not fret. The ArtScience Museum has educational activities and workshops specially catered to the kids for them to better understand the subject (read below for kids' activities).

A piece of extraordinary jewellery is made with so much precision and passion. There is so much to learn from this unique exhibition - the art, craftsmanship, history and earth science. We were brought on an astonishing journey right from the start of it all - the origin of minerals and how these form gems through seven major principles (pressure, temperature, transport, water, oxygen, life, and metamorphism. The journey continues with the exquisite craftsmanship that transfigures these rare minerals into fine works of art by Van Cleef & Arpels.

Set for Smoker & Art Deco Night Light made with quartz and other gemstones

Founded in Paris in 1906, the French company Van Cleef & Arpels is renowned for its high quality and innovation in all its jewellery and watches. Ch and I were mesmerised by the skills of the expert craftsmen and their trade through the videos shown.

The Zip necklace is an example of artistic innovation. Produced in 1950, this creation is notable for being able to open and close like a zipper, and be worn as a necklace or a bracelet. The necklace has become Van Cleef & Arpels' iconic piece of jewellery. Fun fact: Hollywood star Margot Robbie wore a similar replica of the Zip necklace to the Oscars in 2015. She declared, "the necklace is worth more than my life!". Well, probably so, as it was listed as an astounding price of $1.5 million!

Zip necklace. Made of platinum, gold, rubies and diamonds

Other pieces in the collection

:: Is the Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition suitable for kids?
As I mentioned, I went for the exhibition like a child, and I learnt ... so much!

There are various activities set up around different parts of the exhibition for kids. They can discover and learn different geometrical shapes and patterns, fashion their own jewellery out of cardboard and recreate a jewel on a touch screen.

We attended the hour-long workshop "A Day in the Life of a Mineralogist". This hands-on workshop reveals the working methods and collections of a mineralogist - one who studies minerals. How cool is that!

My takeaway from this workshop: As a Chemistry teacher, I've taught about various minerals like sulfur, fluoride and diamond. It was fascinating even for me to see these and touch them in real life and to learn more about how they form inside our planet. The kids can come up close to observe the minerals, shine light on them, do the hardness test, etc. Being an hour-long, some of the younger kids got a little distracted after a while, but the older ones were captivated and even stayed on after the workshop ended.

You can still catch the last session of this workshop this Friday, 24 Jun from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm. It is complimentary to ticket holders of Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art and Science of Gems. Recommended for children aged 6 and above. The workshop has a capacity of up to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Will need to register 15 minutes before workshop starts. 


Ch could not believe her eyes when she saw a diamond being passed around for us to take a look. "It's a diamond!", she exclaimed.

Peeking at a diamond under the microscope

There will be another workshop in July - Make Your Own Soap Gems. Through a tactile experience involving soap, the kids will learn to identify the different cuts of gemstones used to make Van Cleef & Arpels creation.

It is complimentary to ticket-holders of this exhibition and is recommended for children aged 6 and above. The workshop has a capacity of up to 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Will need to register 15 minutes before workshop starts.

When: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 July (Friday)
Time: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

So yes, whether you are into bling jewellery or a novice like us, you will find the Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art and Science of Gems exhibition an intriguing and educational experience for the family.

More info about the Van Cleef & Arpels: The Art & Science of Gems
Duration: 23 April - 14 August 2016
Venue: ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Avenue, S018974
Opening hours: Daily, 10 am - 7 pm (last admission at 6 pm)
Parking: Nearest car park is the North Car Park at Marina Bay Sands
Admission fees (in SGD): ranging from $6 for child (2-12 years) to $17 for adult. Family packages available. More details here.

Public guided tours in English or Mandarin are available on specific days. Check the programmes schedule here. 
Oh ya, revealing the answer to the first question in this post, that quartz crystal weighs no less than 800 kilograms.

Recently, L was blessed with 5 LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS, and that was the start of an eye-opening induction to the new LEGO series for me.

[media invite]
It was not the traditional theatre set-up that I had expected but a refreshing change which allows the children to view the play at close-range.

The beautiful story of two girls, Hanà and Momò, takes place around a circular sand pit at the Drama Centre Visitor Centre which is free seating. Freely adapted from the book Fairy Tale of Love by Hermann Hesse, Hanà e Momò is a story about two girls who meet for the first time. Hanà wants to play but Momò prefers to be left alone to work on her drawings on the sand. Momò gets upset when Hanà tries to help with her drawings. Feeling ignored and left with just a tiny bit of space for her own creations, Hanà decides to challenge Momò to a game of artistic creations. A game of rivalry to outwin each other turns into friendship when they find a treasure map and realise that working together is more fun. 


It is amazing that simple props like bamboo, sand, paper and wood, topped with artful acting and movement by the actors, could mesmerise us so much. Even the made-up language that sounds like a child's babbling (imagine words like "Uh-Da-Da-Bo") was so cute yet we could understand! We were totally drawn into Hanà and Momò's childhood world for that one hour and it was obvious that every child present that day was tickled by Hanà and Momò's skillful acting. 


There are only a few shows left if you want to catch this play. Details for Hanà e Momò are: 

Dates: 31 May to 5 June, 2016 | Shows are 1 hour with no interval

Timing: Tuesday to Friday: 10am | Saturday and Sunday: 11am and 3pm

Venue: Drama Centre Visitors Centre (100 Victoria Street, National Library Building)

Ticket prices: Weekdays $28/ticket, Weekends $38/ticket | Tickets for Family pack available (get your tickets from SISTIC)

Although this play is recommended for children ages 3 to 8 years old, Ch was as tickled as L and she enjoyed it tremendously. As for K, she still calls "Hah-Na and Mo-mo" affectionately when I ask her about the show. Isn't that cute?

This performance is a part of the ACT 3i Festival for Children and is created and directed by Cristina Mileti and Francesca Randazzo from the theatre company Principio Attivio Teatro. Formed in 2007, Principio Attivo Teatro has participated in important theatre festivals and events in and around Europe and Brazil. This is their virgin trip to Singapore, and I certainly hope to see more of their productions here in the future. 

About ACT 3i Festival for Children
A pioneer in children's theatre performances, ACT 3 International launches a brand new ACT 3i Festival for Children this year to give our children a memorable experience that is different from broad-based children's entertainment. Dedicated to children 2 to 12 years old, be ready to immerse in the exciting, awe-inspiring and high-quality theatre performances which include original works from Singapore, Italy, Sweden, Argentina, the U.K. and Canada. There is also an artfully curated visual arts programme as well as Conviviality Sessions led by Children's Theatre artists to bring arts enrichment to educators and parents. Taking place daily from 24 May to 5 June 2016 at the Drama Centre, your child will be spoilt for choices from the good selection of well-crafted programmes that are offered. Check out ACT 3 International website for more details. 

{We thank ACT 3 International for the invite to ACT 3i Festival for Children's Hanà e Momò. We received complimentary tickets to attend the event for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was given and all opinions are ours.}

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One of my goals for 2016 is to bring my kids to some of the outdoor playgrounds that we have never been to, especially so for K as playgrounds are the best physiotherapy equipment around. She has been walking with an awkward stance and wide gait to compensate for the weak core muscles that still need strengthening. Guilty to say, we have brought them to none so far. Can't figure what we have done with all the time we had since January!

Recently, Ch and L went on a "Play! exploration around Singapore" with me. This was organised by Canon Singapore, and I was thrilled to visit two of the playgrounds that I have bookmarked on my list and the street murals off Everton Road. Accompanying me for this exploration trip was Canon's G5 X camera, which was on loan for the purpose of this photography trail, and my trusty iPhone. 

I just realised K's pink striped top is so matching with her My Quiet Book (Premium Edition) from Royal Rae. Haha!

If you are wondering what a quiet book is, it goes by a few other names like cloth book, soft book and busy book. It is a book made out of fabric and contains a few pages of quiet activities to keep children engaged and entertained.

A quiet book comes in handy when a child needs to stay ... quiet. But of course, there is no rule to prevent any laughter or communication between the parent and child while working with the quiet book.

I chose this quiet book for K as there are some activities which are challenging for her and I can stretch the use of this fabric book for a longer time. The velcro ones are manageable for her at this moment and she can relate to the pictures like the apple tree, the train, faces that show four types of feelings.

Recommended for children aged 12 months and older, My Quiet Book was able to keep K actively engaged and sit still for at least 20 minutes. There are 14 interactive pages to help her little fingers get some fine motor exercises; buckling, snapping on shapes, pulling off velcro fabric pictures, zipping, buttoning, tying shoe laces, matching, etc. I also like that there is a clock face to let me talk about time with K and a few pages to encourage imaginative play. Each page comes with a simple one-liner instruction embroidered in capital letters for her to "read". And yes, you read it right. The words are EMBROIDERED and not just printed on.


Since the whole book is made of cloth, it is easy to hand-wash and I don't have to worry that the pages trap dirt or dust as much as felt ones. The padded handle and zipper around the book make it easy for K to carry as a bag without dropping the pieces. The book is also lightweight and packs easily into your diaper bag or a busy bag for church.



What else do I like about Royal Rae:

:: All the products are sewn with love. Royal Rae's philosophy speaks volume of that -

"Every single toy is made as though it is meant for my daughter."

:: High quality is ensured - all the toys have High Cognitive Value in Math, languages and IQ and High Sensorial Value.

:: Free delivery in Singapore for any amount

:: Royal Rae has a 30-day, no-questions-asked exchange policy. That means if you change your mind for any reason, you can exchange it for another item*!

*note that no refunds will be returned if the item exchanged for is of a lower value. A top-up is required if the item exchanged for is of a higher value.
*more about the exchange policy here.

My Quiet Book (Premium Edition) is currently on sale at Royal Rae website and there are only 5 in stock the last I checked! This quiet book is definitely a great gift to get for a child!



The kind folks at Royal Rae have kindly offered a 10% discount to all Simply Lambchops readers! No minimum purchase required, and this discount is for NON-SALE items only. Just key in 

Gonna fill these cute owls, attach their eyes and they will be ready as a Celebrate-End-Of-Exams gift for Ch and her BFFs!

A pioneer in children's theatre performances, ACT 3 International is launching a brand new ACT 3i Festival for Children this year to give our children a memorable experience that is different from broad-based children's entertainment. Dedicated to children 2 to 12 years old, be ready to immerse in the exciting, awe-inspiring and high-quality theatre performances which include original works from Singapore, Italy, Sweden, Argentina, the U.K. and Canada. There is also an artfully curated visual arts programme as well as Conviviality Sessions led by Children's Theatre artists to bring arts enrichment to educators and parents. 

Taking place daily from 24 May to 5 June 2016 at the Drama Centre, you will be spoilt for choices from the good selection of well-crafted programmes that are offered. 








See http://act3international.com.sg/act3ifestival/ for information on all ACT 3i Festival for Children shows and activities. 

About ACT 3i Festival for Children
Dates: 24 May to 5 June 2016
Venue: Drama Centre, 100 Victoria Street, National Library Building (Theatre, Black Box and Visitors Centre)

For more information: (65) 6735 9986 or www.act3international.com.sg

Tickets are already on sale:
By the internet: www.sistic.com.sg (credit card payment only)
By phone: SISTIC Hotline 6348 5555 (credit card payment only)
In person: at authorised SISTIC agents
At the door: available at the venue an hour before show time at full price (cash payment only)

DISCOUNTS applicable for all shows from 1 April 2016 onwards: 

• 15% current ACT 3 Drama Academy students
• 15% for a minimum of 12 tickets in the same transaction to the same show and time
• 10% OCBC Child Development Account (CDA) holders and Mighty Savers members
• 10% when 2 shows are booked
• 15% when 3 or more shows are booked

I have 2 tickets to Snow White by DuffleBag production to give to one lucky reader! Expect an hour of humour and surprises with a dramatic twist when the Snow White fairy tale meets Shakespearean classics. You can even join in the action and feel the excitement of living a fairy tale. 

Date of show: 28 May 2016, Saturday
Time of show: 2 pm
Duration: 1 hour without interval
Venue: Drama Centre Theatre
Best for: 4 to 8 year old

How to enter the giveaway:
Compulsory steps:
1. Like Simply Lambchops Facebook page.
2. Like this Facebook post and comment "Thank you ACT 3 International for the tickets!"

Bonus step:
3. Follow me on Instagram @simplylambchops

Do share this with your friends to benefit their children! This giveaway will end on 14 May, Saturday at 23:59. Results of the random draw will be announced here.