Exclusive Featured : An EXTRAORDINARY Celebration - The Keidoscope of Love and Hope

Music has always been one of my biggest passion since high school. As a band major from my school band and a music mentor today. Music has impacted my life positively and inspired me greatly. I appreciate creative talents and I enjoy live musical performances on different events & occasions.

I am honored to be invited to attend An Extraordinary Celebration at University Cultural Centre (NUS) recently. The event theme this year is, "A Kaleidoscope of Love and Hope."

                     

     

I must say I am truly impressed and overwhelmed by the outstanding performances by children/teens between the age of 4 to 18yo from special education, institutes and mainstream schools in Singapore in collaboration to present this grand musical concert.

From cultural dance, hip-hop, choir, orchestra bands and more, the kids are so cool and professional on stage. I could see so much efforts and hard work in every performances presented to the audience.

                

             
                

Guest-Of-Honour : The Arrival of our President Mr Tharman and the First Lady.

                 

It's a great pleasure to meet Mr President and the first lady in person to celebrate this extraordinary event together.

Let The Show Begin...

Hey, the host looks familiar...Yeah, it's Moe Alkaff! I love his humor and fun, bubbly personality, the ambiance was vibrant, lively, full of energy and excitement!

Here's a compilation and highlights of the performances. Wow! I love the dance grooves! Any BlackPink fans here?😘

                   

Music is an universal global language that express different emotions and connecting people, it showcase artistic talents and the creativity of individual musicians.

Extraordinary People Limited (EPL) is a registered charitable, non profit organisation established in 2017 that support individuals with special needs through community supported initiatives. The organisation journeys with their families from early childhood to adulthood to promote independent living and to create a more inclusive society.

 Heal The World - Sing and Ring The Bell🔔

                                        

A fun interactive moment as we ring the hand bells in tune and sing the song in harmony. The bells are in different colours for the music chords/keys. (*I got the Blue one, the G Chord) A perfect song for the event and the lyrics brings a sense of Love and Hope in the house...The music director, Mr Damein Lim did a brilliant job in conducting the concert.👍

I firmly believe that everyone has some kind of talents and potentials inside them. We are all unique in our own ways. Sometimes, it may take years to discover your special gifts and talents, but never stop chasing your dreams and passions! Keep exploring the possibilities and embrace your potential...Everyone can be amazing and extraordinary people! 🥰

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney

It was a well-organised, entertaining and a heart-warming event that deserves more recognition and public awareness. I think everyone did an excellent job and I am very grateful to experience this special and unforgettable celebration!

Warmest thanks to Extraordinary People Limited for an exclusive invitation to be part of this annual extravaganza musical event! 😎

         

(P.S : Some munchies goody after the event. We get to keep the hand bell as a memento!😊)

For more information, please visit their website : https://www.extraordinarypeople.sg/ 

*Remarks :
This media event is proudly presented & organized by Extraordinary People Limited and their media partners. An Exclusive Featured Blog By Author :  Mandy Law (aka Mommywarrior77)

*Friendly Notice : All content, photos and videos in the blog are owned by the Author. All Rights Reserved.©️

What's In Your Jukebox? 🎧🎶

Finally! I got some free time to do a short blog and a quick update today...

Well, the school holiday is always the busiest time for me as a work-at-home mum. The kids keep me occupied all day, I rarely have much time to do my own stuff and it's madness some days, but I still love my 2 sweethearts very much! Oh yes, I had a wonderful birthday celebration with family and friends last week.

So, for the past few weeks...I have been busy writing a song for my kids for SG:SW2019 我写我的歌,  it's a Song Writing Contest in Singapore. I think music is another great way to express yourself besides blogging. However, songwriting is much time consuming, especially while recording a demo, singing and playing with an instrument...but the whole process is fun and very rewarding! Thankfully, I managed to submit my song demo & full lyrics before the closing date! 😅


I am not Jay Chou (周杰伦) or David Tao (陶喆). I admire their great musical talents and I love many of their songs too...Personally, I think it doesn't matter who you are, as long as you have a passion for music and love to write songs, just go ahead and make your own music!

A good song to me is something that touches the heart and soul, it makes you feel connected to the lyrics and inspired you...and that song would stay in your head for a very long time! 


For me, joining a contest is not always about winning. Of course, it would be a bonus and a great achievement if you do win, but the true beauty of writing a song is expressing what you feel for the people you love and when my son told me he loves the song that I wrote for him and his little sister...Wow! That is pure happiness, a sense of accomplishment and that's all it matters to me! 😍


Music is a big part of my life! Yeah, I could talk about music all day... Basically, I need music every day! I even put on my wireless headphones while doing the housework and cooking etc, I guess it makes the daily house chores less boring..haha! 



I love soft rock, hip-hop, R&B, New Age and Pop music. I listen to many different songs that connect my emotions and situations that I could relate to. It could be anything from classic to the latest hits.


Nuff said! Here are my current favorite playlists :

Click the links to listen ⏩

Mandy Favorite (English) Playlist

Mandy Favorite (Mixed) Playlist

What kind of music do you like? Drop a comment below or email me. Enjoy the music and happy weekend folks! 😘


Blogger Mommywarrior77

Change The World..Teach Music! 🎼

There are many things in life that I am crazy about and MUSIC is one of them! 😎

I Love Music! I love to sing and I took part in many singing contests in the past. (Hmm, I really missed those glamorous days, performing on stage!lol..😁😍) I also enjoy live bands, writing songs and playing musical instruments too.

 

When someone talks about Music, songwriting, favorite bands or musical instruments, etc.. I swear the conversation can go on for days. Lolz! Music gets me through good and bad days, it's like a heartbeat that flows inside me. I never get bored with music and I need Music everyday! 🎧🎶

I appreciate good Music and a great song is like a therapy, not only it helps me to relax, it also calms my mind...and happy songs make me feel positive about life! Music is an inspiration. Many lyrics in the songs are so touching and meaningful that express different emotions.

Indeed, music inspired people and connects the world! Over the years, I made many cool friends who are music fanatics like me and we often exchange ideas and techniques to improve our skills in playing different musical instruments.

Just a little background about myself...I played the Trombone and Tenor Saxophone during high school. Look, I still have my Band Major Badge and Sash here with me..Pretty cool and vintage, right? Looking at these cool badges bring back many fond memories of my school band.

My passion and the love for Music bloom, ever since ......

I've always wanted to learn the guitar but as a teen back then, money was tight.. I couldn't afford a guitar but I didn't want to ask money from my Mum, so I started to work at 7-Eleven (My first job) during school vacations and finally got my first guitar at the cash converter shop! The sound quality and the condition of the guitar wasn't that great but I was still happy to own my very first acoustic guitar.🎸

Every day, I spent about 1-2hrs playing the guitar till my fingers were sore and I've watched countless guitar tutorial videos on Youtube and that really helped... After a few months of practicing, I finally could play many popular pop songs on my guitar.

So I figured that self-learning is still possible if you don't want to spend much on music lessons, but if you can afford the money and really want be a professional musician in your career, it will be good to get a certified and experienced music teacher to guide you along.

From Youtube, I learned to play the drums as well but since drums are loud, I have to practice drumming at the jamming studio as I don't want the neighbors to complain about the noise when I practice drumming afew hours every day, so I bought a Yamaha digital drum kit to practice at home, with the headphones. 

Playing music makes you feel energetic, it makes you look cool and feel young too! There are so many health benefits when you play a musical instrument. It stimulates the brain, boosts your memory, self-confidence, build creative minds and the list goes on...

In recent years, I've also learned to play the Ukulele. I love it because it sound so lively and joyful! I see many kids having fun learning the Ukulele in school. It's lightweight and easy to carry around, unlike guitars and drums that are quite bulky..hence, traveling and transportation can be quite a hassle sometimes...

I take my Uke to birthday parties,

bbq, gatherings and jam with my music buddies! There are so many great songs you can play on the ukulele and the guitar. I really think Ukulele is a cool instrument, suitable for the young and old. 

As a busy Mum with daily routines, family commitments, work assignments and online orders, I haven't been playing music actively but I still 'bond' with my favorite instruments whenever I'm free or in the mood...

A few months ago, the RC committee in-charge asked me to form an Interest group for Ukulele that allows the residents to learn and play together on weekends. It was a perfect timing as they are people in my neighborhood who are so keen and ready to learn the Ukulele.

I have started teaching Basic Ukulele afew weeks ago, the class is on every Sunday and I hope to bring Music into the neighborhood! So if you love Ukulele, you are welcome to join us and learn together. Email me if you are interested. 

My personal advice to anyone who wants to learn a musical instrument... Put your heart and efforts to learn, no one is too old or too slow to learn an instrument, don't let anything stop you from learning! Age is only a number, so long as you have the passion for music and still able to move your limbs freely. You can learn almost anything! 😉

Don't give up just because you keep playing the wrong notes, no one is born a musician and practice makes perfect! Keep in mind that Music is supposed to be fun and entertaining, it should never feel like a race or make you feel stressed!

Don't rush and push yourself too hard!..Follow your comfort pace. Don't feel discouraged if you can't play a song yet, everyone has different learning speed and ability. Babies first learn to crawl before they start to walk. Patience.

I'm really happy and feel honored to teach anyone who wants to learn the Uke. Though I'm not a professional musician who sings or plays music for a living, but I'm willing to share my music knowledge for free! 

To me, life isn't always about money!
I know there are many people out there who love music and wants to learn an instrument so badly, but they couldn't afford expensive music schools/courses.. so providing free
Music lessons will encourage them to keep on learning. 

The biggest joy about teaching music is when the students could finally play a decent song smoothly on the Ukulele! Oh wow! That to me, is the most rewarding achievement! 

I always encourage people to pursue their interests. Don't worry about what others think. Learning an instrument is truly awesome! Just go ahead, play the instruments that you love and have fun! 

Music is beautiful and soulful...it has no boundaries and it benefits everyone! So grab the Uke and start jamming'..Rock on! 🤘🤘😎


Blogger Mommywarrior77

 

Tips On Managing Stress & Negative Emotions💡🆘

Let's talk about STRESS⚠️ 

Everyone experiences stress in daily life. Stress on work projects, family matters, parenting, relationships, financial, school exams, and the list goes on...

I have the opportunity to interact with people from different walks of life via phones, emails and social media lately and I realized that many are battling with stress/depression, so I thought I should blog on this subject and share my personal tips on how I deal with stress and my negative emotions. 

 
Now, take a moment to think...

Why do you feel stressed, unhappy, angry or depressed? What exactly is bothering you? Was it someone that pisses you? nasty remarks? some past incidents or bad experiences that upset you? Have a thought about that one! 

It is important to find out the ROOT of the problem that causes all these negative feelings. Without knowing what triggers stress, it's hard to deal with negative emotions. 

Well, you could find a psychiatrist or a therapist for help but they might not solve your problems because they won't be able to eliminate all your stress and negative feelings so ultimately, it is YOU who must help yourself to manage your emotions in a long run, because no one knows you better than yourself! 😉

Don't get me wrong, people! I have a lot of respect for doctors/physicians and their professions, they are very important in our society. I truly admire their medical knowledge and the sacred oath to save lives... 

Unfortunately, many people are struggling with prolonged stress and depression but they are unable to get much help and can't afford expensive therapy sessions.

 
So before you rush to get yourself diagnosed with Depression, Anxiety, etc.. you can try some tips and adjust your lifestyle with good habits & routines. If you feel that things are still not improving and you are getting more emotional...PLEASE seek professional help and see a doctor soon.

Here are my 12 Tips To Manage Stress -(*Contents for reference only, no medical information intended)

Tip #1: Organize Your Time. Don't rely on your memory, use a diary or a notepad. Set reminders alarms on your phone for daily important tasks and upcoming appointments. 

Tip #2: Don't Skip Breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. Don't start the day with an empty stomach because you may feel restless and unfocused at work/school. Hence, making mistakes that cause stress again. Drink enough water every day, I like Green Tea, Flower Tea and fruit juice, they are so good and refreshing.👍

Tip #3: Don't stay at home all day. Go out! Inhale the scent of nature, get some fresh air and Sunshine! 🌞 You can take a walk at the beach/park /garden/ or just taking a bus ride and do some light shopping at the mall. Keep yourself occupied with some things to do so you don't have too much free time to overthink. 

Tip #4: Turn on the radio and listen to some music! Good music can reduce stress and brightens up your day. Watch a comedy and have a good laugh! Laughter is often the best healer and it doesn't cost a cent! 😍

Tip #5: Do some Sports. You don't have to be a professional athlete. Sweat it out! A good workout can help reduce stress. I play Basketball and I enjoy shooting the ball into the basket and it reminds me that as long as you keep moving and stay focused, you'll reach your goals! It's a pretty cool sport.. not only it makes you slimmer, but it also makes you fitter too! 😘

Tip #6: Meditate for 10-15 mins every day if you can. Find a quiet place, visualize the flowing water or the sea waves and control your breathing. You can use diffusers if you are into Aromatherapy like me. My favorite is, Ylang-Ylang, Tea Tree and Chamomile.

Tip #7: Have some dark chocolates or light Ice-creams. I have sweet tooth and I do feel happier after having some yummy desserts, but do not eat them every day,  especially if you are on a diet.Lol 😁

Tip #8: Stay away from toxic people! You don't need negative vibes from them to add more stress. Hang around with happy, positive people who are fun, friendly, helpful and supportive. You'll feel more lively and happier too.


Tip #9: Take a long beauty bath and pamper yourself! Go for body massage if you can spend a bit or ask your partner to give you a massage, Lol.. that way, you can have some romantic couple time without spending too much money. (Bonus!)👍


Tip #10: Get Enough Sleep. Be nice to your body. Good sleep is important for both the young and old, it helps to reduce stress but make sure your bedroom is well-ventilated and clean. I don't think anyone can really have a good sleep in a stuffy and cluttered room.


Tip #11: Take Pride in your Appearance. You don't have to dress like a Fashion chic or a Supermodel but basic grooming is still necessary, because when you dress well and look good, you feel more confident and great about yourself too, well..who doesn't like compliments, right? 😊That's a huge boost to reduce stress.


Tip #12: Set Realistic Goals. You are not a robot or Superman. There is no need to push yourself so hard to achieve all your goals in the shortest time. We are not in a race, so move at your own pace that you feel comfortable. There is no need to follow the majority crowd. It is OK to be different! Don't create unnecessary competitions for yourself. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.

These are some tips on how I deal with my daily emotions. Stress is NOT a disease, it doesn't always need long term medication or therapy in my opinion. 

However, if stress is not well-controlled, it can lead to more serious mental health problems like depression, panic attacks, anxiety, low self-esteem, self-harm and even suicides. 

Be mindful that there will be many different challenges in life and stress is unavoidable, but we can learn to take charge and control our emotions and mental health. Feed your mind with happy thoughts and positive vibes because only YOU have the ability to control your emotions. Remember, it's just a bad day...NOT a bad life! 😎😘

Blogger Mommywarrior77

I Wrote My Songs 🎼

I feel very honored to be invited to a launch party last evening. It was a private event, strictly by invitation so I brought my sister along since we both love Chinese Pop Music.😘

Last year, I took part in a Song Writing Contest organized by SGSW [我写我的歌 2017] I'm happy to contribute my work and be part of this music event. For the record, over 450 songs (including my songs) were submitted last year and only 1 winner for this contest. I finally met the winner in person when he sang his song with his keyboard on stage last evening...

It was a touching, sad love song [请你记得我] and I like it! 😝 Personally, if any songs that connect your emotions, touches your heart..a song that can make you cry, laugh and the lyrics stay in your head...That's a good song/music in my opinion.😎

It was a nice outdoor party held at the Roof Garden of Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC). We enjoyed great live music performance and the beautiful evening sceneries around, food and drinks were provided as well..What an awesome party! 👍

Music is my passion! I love writing my songs, playing my guitar, ukulele and drums. I shall submit my new song when it's completed.😉

I hope more people will support our local talents and musicians. Who knows there could be many more local talents like JJLin and Stefanie Sun for the Chinese music industry.

Winning the contest is secondary to me..I just wanna' write my songs, let music be my voice and let my songs be heard...Anyway, win or lose, it doesn't really matter, because in the end, I still gain another experience...Well, at least the panel of judges have heard my songs,lol..so, may the best man/song wins!😉

Till then, I'll update my new blog soon, do stick around folks..Cheers! 😘🥂

Blogger Mommywarrior77