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Visit These 5 Places To Buy Real Christmas Trees & Decorations In Singapore

All of us have different memories of Christmas that we hold close to our hearts. As time passes, our relationship with the Yuletide season evolves. However, one thing remains the same. There’s nothing quite like the smell of Christmas in your home to lift your holiday spirit.

What exactly, is the smell of Christmas? Fresh wreath and trees of course!

For newbies, take this friendly words of advice. If you want to score a fresh tree, you must get it early. Don’t worry about the upkeep because these trees normally last the whole season. Little fading may occur due to being in the tropics. Check out our top picks to buy one in Singapore.

#1: PETITE FLEUR

Spruce up your home with a Christmas wreath meant to be hung on your front door or in the living room to welcome guests and loved ones. Boutique florist Petite Fleur’s 26cm Christmas wreaths will make you stand out from the crowd as it is carefully arranged for you. No two wreaths look exactly alike!

Apart from this, they are selling mini pine trees measuring 30cm to 60cm. These mini-Christmas trees come with fairy lights and fresh decorations.

Image Credits: petitefleursg.com

Price: S$120 for wreaths and S$120-210 for trees, excluding 7% GST

Order online at petitefleursg.com and get free delivery.

#2: IKEA

IKEA not only houses the famous Swedish meatballs and DIY furniture, but also the Vinter 2021. The Vinter 2021 consists of live Christmas trees that retail for S$59 to S$79 at their Alexandra store. Accompany it with a tree stand for only S$25.

Image Credits: Image Credits: ikea.com/sg

Price: S$59 for a 1.6m tree and S$79 for a 2m tree

Purchase at the IKEA Alexandra store. Delivery rates range from S$15 to S$70.

#3: FAR EAST FLORA

When traveling along Thomson Road, it is hard to miss the Far East Flora. Far East Flora is known for its massive selection of flowers and plants. Local plant enthusiasts should be aware of its existence and its huge nurseries. Quickly visit to see their selection of noble fir trees, which were imported from Europe.

Trees that measure 2 to 2.5 meters come with a tree stand. It costs about S$379.45 including GST. If this is beyond your budget, consider purchasing smaller trees or mini trees to bring home the holiday spirit.

Image Credits: facebook.com/FarEastFlora

Price: S$379.45++ for 2-2.5m tree with a tree stand

Location: 565 Thomson Road, Singapore 298184

Purchase online or in store, with a delivery fee of S$25.

#4: SING SEE SOON

Searching for affordable Christmas trees that are as tall as you? The search is over. Sing See Soon has Fraser fir Christmas trees that range from 1.52m to 1.83m, which are sold without a stand. Due to its straight horizontal branches, these Canadian variety of fir trees are pleasing to the eyes.

Image Credits:
singseesoon.com/collections/christmas-tree/products/faser-fir-christmas-tree-5-6ft

Price: S$188

Location: 5 Simei Lane, Singapore 528710

Get yours online or in store, with a delivery fee of S$30.

#5: WONDERLAND BOTANICALS

You don’t have to sacrifice the festive decorations just because you live in a smaller space. Rather than putting your items in the storage area, you can opt for a tabletop Christmas tree. Join a tabletop Christmas tree workshop on 17 Dec to learn how to make your own tree. This 2-hour workshop costs about S$150.

For those who want to save time and money, you can simply buy a Christmas wreath decorated with classic berries for S$135 or a bouquet of nobilis fir branches for S$25.

Image Credits: wonderland.com.sg

Price: S$25 for the bouquet, S$135 for the wreath, and S$150 for the workshop

Location: 1M Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168641

You can order online and get it delivered to your doorstep!

Sources: 1 & 2

Christmas gift ideas under S$30 for kids

Christmas is around the corner! If you’re not on route to a VTL trip this yearend, it’s not too bad to celebrate a cozy Christmas within the safe borders of Singapore.

To completely feel the Christmas vibes, you will want to get your Christmas trees and decorations up and hanging. Families with kids should definitely involve their children in the process! And on the night of Christmas Eve, remember to place your nicely wrapped gifts under the light-filled tree.

If you’ve not gotten your presents for the little ones, take it from our list of Christmas gift ideas under S$30 for kids.

#1: Lego Creative Bag Charm

Now: S$7.90

Usual Price: S$10.90

This LEGO Creative Bag Charm is a sand-colored 2 x 4 Lego brick with 12 Lego pieces for making creative faces tied to a sturdy metal ring and chain. It can be used to keep keys safe, or can be attached to your kid’s backpack to distinguish theirs from their classmates’! A fantastic Christmas present for children six years old and above who are Lego lovers.

#2: Kinetic Sand Hidden Treasure

Now: S$9.99

Usual Price: S$12.99

With the Kinetic Sand Buried Treasure set, children can now hunt for gold at home. Have them find the buried tool that helps to scoop, shovel, and transform the kinetic sand. They might even locate the unique gold coin while searching for the three bronze or silver coins hidden within. The portable treasure chest makes an ideal storage container for the kinetic sand once your kids are done with their playtime. The sand is easily moldable, glides through one’s hands, and never dries out, allowing your children to play over and over again.

#3: 4M Green Science Salt Powered Robot

Price: S$16.90

This 4M Green Science Salt Powered Robot offers a hands-on learning opportunity that emphasizes the importance of renewable energy sources. It is safe and non-toxic because it is mainly operated by a chemical reaction between saltwater and charcoal. This kit comes with everything your kid needs to build a saltwater-powered robot. It is specially designed for children aged eight and older and comes with a comprehensive user manual.

#4: Usborne Sticker Book & Jigsaw (100pc) Set – Unicorn

Now: S$19.90

Usual Price: S$24.90

Usborne Unicorn Sticker Book & Jigsaw Set is a brightly colored 100-piece jigsaw and a 16-page sticker book packaged together in a durable box. The jigsaw puzzle contains 100 pieces for kids to put together and is packed with unicorns to uncover. Apart from unicorns, flowers and other charming creatures can be added to the vibrant themes in the sticker book. It has a variety of enjoyable tasks that aid in the development of key abilities such as visual differentiation and memory recollection. A great way for children to get started with intermediate-level puzzles!

#5: Wall Climbing Car – Met Red

Now: S$20

Usual Price: S$49.90

This RED5 Wall Climbing Car attaches to most surfaces via suction, allowing your car-loving kid to play on the wall and even the ceiling. Simply set it on the area you wish to run on, and the vacuum mechanism will take its course. It comes with an infrared remote that allows the user to control it wirelessly. You may either recharge straight from the remote or use the USB charging cord that comes with it. This toy also boasts brilliant LED lamps, enabling an upgraded play experience at night! For kids eight and older, this gift would provide gravity-defying excitement.

#6: Aquarellum Junior Dinosaures (Dinosaurs)

Price: S$24.90

Aquarellum Junior Dinosaurs is a collection of watercolor painting kits with fun concepts. Kids may paint four dinosaurs in different colors and shades with this dinosaur bundle! It’s uncomplicated to use, thanks to distinctive imprinted cards that soak paint in certain areas while repelling it in others, with no need for additional tools or templates. Even kindergarteners are capable of creating exquisite artworks with this set. A wonderful opportunity for your kids to hone their color awareness and unleash their artistic side.

#7: Snakes & Ladders Board Game

Price: S$24.90

Djeco’s version of Snakes and Ladders has been refined and redesigned with an arctic twist. To ace the game, remember that ladders will help you move closer to the end of the race, but be careful not to fall through the nets and be left behind. This activity aids in your child’s development of number awareness and basic counting abilities. It’s a fun family or team game to play on Christmas Day!

#8: Rainbow Xylophone & Double-Sided Drum

Price: S$27.94 each

Musical instruments are incredibly beneficial to your child’s development because they help to engage the mind and improve sound recognition. Consider the Rainbow Xylophone and Double-Sided Drum if you’re shopping for musical toys for your toddler or young child. The durable xylophone enables children to recognize colors and musical scales while the adaptable drum allows your little ones to create amazing beats! Use the stick to hit the top surface as well as the ridges on the sides of the drum. Then turn around and strike the wooden-side drum for a differentiated tone.

Apple Nears the US$3 Trillion Market Cap

Apple, the American tech giant, is inches away from reaching a market capitalization of US$3 trillion dollars just over a year after it surpassed the two-trillion mark. This incredible milestone is as big as the equity markets of the United Kingdom or Germany.

After a decades-long run as one of the world’s best performing stocks, shares of Apple were up at 1.6% at US$174. The company needs to trade at US$182.85 to hit the goal. Nonetheless, the stock risen to about 30% this year on top of an 80% jump in 2020.

Oanda’s Senior Market Analyst Craig Erlam said: “There’s so much still to come from Apple, which makes you wonder what milestone they’ll pass next and how big they can become.”

Back in 2018, Apple reached the US$1 trillion in market capitalization and it took the company two years to double that valuation. Reaching the three-trillion mark will establish a strong rally that has been fueled by investors betting on its brand. Moreover, its peers in the trillion-dollar club include Microsoft, Amazon, and Tesla.

“Apple does seem to be more immune to the ebb and flow of economic forces just because of this really strong brand. Its new product pipeline is pretty strong too,” according to Hargreaves Lansdown’s Senior Investment and Market Analyst Susannah Streeter.

QUICK TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Owing it to the steady stream of products that attracted a loyal following, Apple became the world’s most valuable business. In late 2000, the company had a market value of merely US$4.5 billion and the investors were fleeing the stock. Nowadays, investors cannot get enough of the stock. The stock has breached Wall Street’s median price target by US$4, with most experts and analysts covering the stock rating it buy or higher.

Despite the wobbling status of markets because of higher interest rates and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, investors view Apple as a relatively safe place to keep their money due to its consistent sales growth.

You see, Apple is “kind of in that sweet spot of not being too expensive, having a nice mix of products and services, and being a great innovator across its entire product line,” said Ingalls & Snyder’s Senior Portfolio Strategist Tim Ghriskey.

Sources: 1 & 2

What We Know & Don’t Know About The Omicron Variant

Another coronavirus variant has emerged last month, and with it comes a new wave of uncertainty and a set of unanswered questions. On 26 November 2021, the World Health Organization designated the variant B.1.1.529 as a variant of concern on the advice of WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution. This variant is commonly known as the Omicron.

Days after the news broke about the Omicron, we remain in an information vacuum. Researchers in South Africa and around the world have been conducting studies to better understand the aspects of Omicron and they will continue to share the findings of these studies.

The current situation was best put by WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during the November 29th World Health Assembly. He said: “Omicron’s very emergence is another reminder that although many of us might think we are done with COVID-19, it is not done with us.”

#1: TRANSMISSIBILITY

It is unclear whether Omicron spreads more easily from person-to-person compared to other variants including Delta. For now, we can observe the Omicron cases in South Africa and other countries.

In South Africa, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has risen and as many as 90% of new cases in Gauteng are caused by it. Epidemiologic studies are underway to understand whether the sudden rise in cases is due to Omicron or other factors. Globally, there have been 1,458 confirmed Omicron cases as reported by 55 countries and posted by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control last 8 December 2021.

Despite the observed cases in South Africa, some areas in United Kingdom and Europe have reported cases of Omicron that are not linked to travel to Southern Africa. This may suggest that the variant has been spreading from person-to-person within the community.

#2: SEVERITY OF THE DISEASE

Much like the transmissibility, the severity of the disease posed by the Omicron variant remains unclear. Although preliminary data suggests that there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa, this may be due to the elevating overall numbers of people becoming infected and not due to the Omicron.

All variants of COVID-19, including Delta, can cause severe disease or death particularly for the most vulnerable people. Prevention is always the key!

#3: EFFECTIVENESS OF VACCINES

The World Health Organization is collaborating with researchers and technical partners to understand the potential impact of Omicron on the existing countermeasures such as the vaccines. Vaccines remain vital to reducing severe disease and death, including against the dominant Delta.

Could the boosters help combat the Omicron? Scientists do not know yet.

#4: CURRENT SITUATION IN SINGAPORE

More than a dozen countries including Singapore have started closing its borders to visitors from countries where the Omicron might be spreading. Entry requirements into Singapore became stricter, including the requirement of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on arrival of all the air travelers. A ringfence will be thrown around the person and any close contacts if there is a positive test result. These safety measures will help prevent Omicron from entering the community.

On 9 December 2021, two COVID-19 cases tested preliminarily positive for the Omicron variant. One of the new Omicron cases is a frontline worker at Changi Airport. The other case is an imported case, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH). MOH is currently conducting aggressive contract tracing to ringfence these cases.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

As scientists around the world work tirelessly to learn more about the Omicron variant, we just have to wait. Whether it will rise to dominance like the Delta or fade like the Alpha and Beta, all we can do is to wear our masks and practice other social distancing measures.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6

4 Reputable Tattoo Studios Around Singapore, Prices Start At S$60

Are you thinking getting inked any time soon? Whether you want to tick off “tattoo” in your bucket list or want to grow your collection of body art, there is a variety of tattoo studios in Singapore. Read this list to explore your options and to know the estimated rates of these four reputable tattoo studios.

#1: INKVASION TATTOO STUDIO

Highlights
Easily accessible location
Versatile tattoo designs
Customized tattoo designs
Pain-free and safe numbing options

Searching for an easily accessible tattoo studio that is just minutes away from Orchard MRT? The search is over! Inkvasion, located at the Far East Shopping Centre, houses skilled tattoo artists that can help you achieve your desired design. The artists at this studio are proficient in a myriad of tattoo designs such as words and scripts, dot work, fine line tattoos, Polynesian tribal, Japanese art, and more. Find your ideal design by heading over to @inkvasionsg on Instagram.

Prices start from S$100. Please contact them through WhatsApp at +65 8127 5371 for a free quotation.

Website: inkvasiontattoo.com
Location: 545 Orchard Road #06-15 Far East Shopping Centre, Singapore 238882

#2: WILD PAW TATTOO CO.

Highlights
Aftercare products
Best known for modern and classic tattoo designs
Customized tattoo designs

Wild Paw Tattoo Co. is a laidback studio where the atmosphere is relaxing, and the staff is friendly. It is best known for its modern and classic tattoo designs. Clients can either get beautiful portraits of their beloved pets or their favorite cartoon characters. As a friendly reminder, the studio has a strict policy against bringing alcohol or drugs. Furthermore, they only accept clients aged 18 and above.

Tattoo prices can range from S$200 to S$350.

Website: wildpawtattoo.com
Location: 30A Bali Lane, Singapore 189866

#3: LOVESICK TATTOO STUDIO

Highlights
Award-winning tattoo artist and founder
Customized tattoo designs
Affordable price for small tattoos

Established in 2012, tattoo artist Louis Tham founded the Lovesick Tattoo studio. Brainchild Louis Tham has been in the tattoo scene for about a decade. In fact, he has won multiple awards in Singapore and overseas for his tattooing expertise. Alongside Louise, the studio houses two professional resident artists named Liucifer Ling and Kian Tan. These talented artists have unique tattoo styles to suit the client’s preferences. For instance, you can opt for Louis who specializes in black and grey realism tattoos or Kian who fuses Japanese art with dot works.

Small designs can cost as low as S$60. While big and striking designs can cost about S$150-S$400 per hour. Rest assured that this studio completes all its inking within its sterile and safe environment.

Website: lovesicktattoostudio.com
Location: 35 Selegie Road, Parklane Shopping Mall #05-03, Singapore 188307

#4: VISUAL ORGASM TATTOO STUDIO

Highlights
Team of tattoo artists
Freehand and customized designs
Colored and monochrome designs
Late closing times

Visual Orgasm Tattoo Studio has a team of tattoo artists that specialize in different tattoo styles such as freehand, cartoon, drawings, blackwork, and realism. Best of all? The artists are open to customizing designs to suit their client’s preferences. You can even bring your child’s drawings for inspiration.

Since the studio allows flexibility in choosing designs, Visual Orgasm also allows its clients to choose between colored and monochrome designs. Those who want to have vivid designs are free to book an appointment on the studio. Just ensure that you answer their forms online and consult them before getting inked. Prepare accordingly as the studio’s base price is S$150 for small and simple designs. Prices will vary for more complex designs.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Website: visual-orgasm.com
Location: 8B Canton St, Singapore 049748

Note: With the current situation, increased social distancing requirements and other operational changes were implemented in these tattoo studios. Please contact your tattoo studio for more information.

Sources: 1 & 2

#1: Lego Creative Bag Charm

#2: Kinetic Sand Hidden Treasure

#3: 4M Green Science Salt Powered Robot

#4: Usborne Sticker Book & Jigsaw (100pc) Set – Unicorn

#5: Wall Climbing Car – Met Red

#6: Aquarellum Junior Dinosaures (Dinosaurs)

#7: Snakes & Ladders Board Game

#8: Rainbow Xylophone & Double-Sided Drum

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