March 2, 2013

Goals for March and Feb Review

Dominique Thoughts Monthly Goals

It’s time again for my monthly review of goals and realignment ot task to work towards yet to be completed goals.

Achievements for February.

Dominique’s Desk Fan Page has reached the 10K mark..woohoo!! As of today it reads 10,010 fans. Thanks all for your continuous support!!
Alexa ranking is down further and it has broken the 70,00 mark . Last glance it was 69,703
I’m now up to a PR 3 from a PR 2. I’m crossing my fingers that it stays at this page rank in upcoming PR reviews.
I’ve completed 4 book reviews, 6 giveaways and 3 product reviews on top of the normal daily posting on the blog. I still have quite a few book reviews to be completed but will finish them up months to come.
Took on a new blogging campaign and went to my first corporate launch for the year with Tiger girl.
I made sausage bread for the kids and made cupcakes for them.
Have stayed off junk foods like potato chips and am adding in more salads to my daily lunch menu.

Major Fail area

Weight has remained at 64-65kg. I am adjusting the portion size of my food and cutting out all the unwanted calories from junk foods. I need to step up on the exercise routine. It’s another 3 more months to June..*Stress**
The year end 2012 photobook has yet to be done.
I have yet to read the stack of DSLR camera magazines which I bought back in 2012.

Resolutions for 2013

For Myself

Focus on more healthy eating and exercising. Target weight is getting back to 60kg first.
Reading up and learning more about how to use my DSLR
Test out the recipes in the cook books that I have acquired in 2012.
To brush up on my French and Japanese.

For the blog

To increase readership even further and break the 15K FB Fan mark.
Get more sponsors and campaigns.
To double blog income.

For the kids

Engage them in more family based activities and teach them more life skills.
Read scripture together with the kids bi-weekly with follow up activities weekly.
Pray together before meals and before bed.
Focus on both academic and physical development for each child.

For the family

Go on family vacations at least twice a year.
Spend time outdoors with the kids
Watch movies or have games night once a month.

For our relationship

Have a couple night once a month or as often as possible.
Go on a couple trip without the kids.
Pray together

March 1, 2013

Weekend Reflections: Cycling with Bike School Singapore

Dominique Parenting and Kids, Weekend Reflections Cycling, weekend reflections

Learning to cycle

Last Sunday Doggie boy went for his first riding lesson. He had been riding with trainer wheels for quite awhile and it was his first time riding without them attached to the bike.

Doggie boy the eager student

He has been watching his elder brother Monkey boy ride his bike without trainer wheels and couldn’t wait to upgrade to a normal bike for a while. He was really excited when we told him that Singapore Bike School had offered to sponsor him bike lessons and he will be taught how to ride a bike properly.

Doggie boy getting ready to start.

After being introduced to instructor K, Doggie boy was given a helmet to wear. He was also given a height appropriate bike without wheels.

Lesson 1: Learning how to balance

Balance is very important in learning how to write a bike. If one is unable to balance on the bike there will be a higher chance that he may fall off or lose control of the bike if it was going to fast or round the bend.

Doggie boy was taught how to remain seated on the bike when it was in motion and turn properly by leaning to the right or left depending on which direction he was going.

Once he could balance the bike , move a distance and turn left and right with it it was time to move on to Lesson 2.

Lesson 2: Learning how to start off properly, stop and brake

Learning where to put his feet before starting off.

The pedals of the bike were placed back before this lesson started. Doggie boy learned how to positing both feet before he starts of cycling. He had to put his dominant feet on the pedal and use both feet to kick off.

Coming to a stop he had to gently squeezing the brakes. If he were to suddenly squeeze on the brake there will be a high chance that he may get thrown off the bicycle when it suddenly jerks. The instructor commented that most of the time kids use their feet to brake when they want to stop. They are not used to using the brakes and have to be constantly reminded. I agreed as they feel almost by instinct to use their feet instead of the brake.

Lesson 3 :Tackling the obstacle course

Now that Doggie boy could handle the bicycle quite confidently he was given the task of trying to ride through the obstacle course set by the instructor.

I manage to take a video of him riding the bicycle.

Doggie boy attempting to ride on the road.

Before long he was riding on the road within the road safety park. He wasn’t that stable and kept bumping into the curb. I guess it will take a while for him to be more seasoned with riding a bicycle.

It was a great achievement to go learn how to ride a bicycle within 1 lesson and we were extremely proud of him. Now is the time to get him a new bicycle.

Disclaimer: We were offered two consecutive free lessons from Singapore Bike School however we only managed to have one as the instructor is away for the month of March and we are only free on weekends.