Work at Home Mom | Earn Money From Home | Parenting and Work at Home

at 10:58 PM

I went to the doctor this morning. My close friends know that I respect doctors but hate medications. I suppose I don't like to depend on them and I always wonder what will the hidden side effects of medications. And being a natural health advocate, I prefer the natural remedies. But for the last few months, this allergy of mine has been affecting my sleep and causing me discomforts. So I know that I need to do something about it before it gets worse... it's already getting worse actually.

But the prescription today shocked me. I was asked to take 2 antibiotics tabs twice a day and that antibiotic was expensive - RM6.80 per tab! It's not so much of the money but I'm worried about the strength of the antiobiotic. Anyhow, I told myself that I would be good this time and follow the doc's instructions.

For whatever reason, I wasn't feeling too good after dinner. I threw up and it felt horrible! Oh well, I don't know what is the cause of this vomiting but I'm just going to give myself another day to evaluate the medications...

Do me a kind favour... say a prayer for me ;)

at 5:43 PM

Somehow, I enjoy countries with four seasons climate. I appreciate the changing seasons and the flexibility in wearing winter clothing and sundress during summertime. Problem is, I have dry skin which can get worse during winter so I often have to find the best moisturizing skincare to avoid flaky and itchy skin.

When the air is dry and the humidity low, it is easy to get sore throats and cracked lips too. I have read in health books that a good humidifier can help to balance the humidity in the room. However, most people dislike the regular maintenance bit which can be time consuming and troublesome. As such, a Hunter carefree humidifiers may be the solution to that, according to a humidifierinformation.com that provides tips on choosing the right humidifier for the house. Some famililes may prefer a whole house humidifier instead of a single room one.

Before deciding on which humidifier is suitable for your family's needs, it is helpful to do your homework and read the reviews of the various models and brands available in the market.

at 3:00 PM

I'm sleep deprived today. Had snippets of sleep throughout the night during to a persistent cough that was causing me discomforts and some slight wheezing.

As usual, I'm given a whole lot of medicine by my regular doctor.. how I hate antibiotics, it's like a never-ended process. Since I'm on antibiotics, I'm taking my regular doses by bifidus to replace the friendly bacteria that is 'destroyed' by the medication.

I need to get well... I must get well... oh yikes... how I hate this cough and this allergy... ARgggrhh!

at 9:56 AM

Couple of weeks ago, I had a great time catching up with my very good friend, Ray who also showed me his cool abode in a colonial house. He had a nice balcony area which I thought would be great to have a relaxing hammock. What a great place to read a book on a nice, cooling evening in a hatteras hammock.

Hatteras hammocks is one of the most popular hammocks in the world. Being a leader in the market, the classic rope hammock has become a symbol of relaxation for families, campers, individuals and holiday makers. These days, hammocks come in all sorts of colours and patterned finishes, materials, with designs that complement your interiors.

Knowing Ray, he is an advocate for quality and trendy products, which means the Hatteras Hammocks would be a perfect choice for him.

at 9:45 AM

This morning, I opened my mailbox and was greeted by a nice surprise email from Colleen from Geeky Speaky. I am this week's Supahstar Saturday! Yay!!

Just like to thank Colleen for starting this meme which helps to give us bloggers a little buzz plus some generous link backs from other blogs. Supahstar Saturday features a different blogger every Saturday and if you too like to be featured, find out how at Colleen's post on Supahstar Saturday.

Don't forget to give me some support and hop over to Colleen's!

at 9:19 AM

Well, I'm hopeless when it comes to accounting or financial details. That is why we have an accountant to settle all the tax filing documents and company financial reports every year.

There is an interesting accountants website where companies or individuals can go to if they need to find an accountant. Basically, you as a visitor can get four quotes from different accountants by filling in the form and the company will select the right accountant for your needs.

This sounds like a good idea as it is challenging to find a suitable accountant for your accounting needs which includes tax advices, bookkeeping or payroll assistance. This service can also help to generate leads for accountants and get more business in return. Only thing is the registered accountants would need to pay £15 for serious and genuine enquiries. But in the business perspective, this can be seen as marketing or advertising costs, and in this case, you have a professional, dedicated company marketing you to the right target audience.

at 9:30 PM

OK... today, we put in the new furniture. The room wasn't that big so we didn't have to buy too much at all. DH assembled the shelving unit, the red table and the green chair. After the man had done his part, I was left to do all the packing and reorganizing for the 'special guy' in this house.

I threw out some junk toys and organized his books neatly, put the blocks in one drawer and all vehicles in another. When I was finished, I noticed the excitement in Clayton's eyes. He would pull in and out every drawer, sat around his new area and pulled out his books. At first, he tried to shift his table and chair into our home business, I thought that was funny. He had the idea of playing alongside with us... I was too busy to stop him.

Then DH came into the home office and insisted that he needed to move his table and chair into his own room. Finally, Clayton got the idea. He realized that those are his and that would be his play room.

I don't how successful we will be in keeping him in his playroom but at least, we have done what we should, that is, to organize his room for him. This has been a task DH has procrastinated for the past 2.5 years and I'm so glad that it's achieved.

What a busy weekend!

at 9:18 PM

It had been a busy weekend. Our goal for this weekend is to transform the current guest's room into Clayton's room. Was that a tiring task!

We spent a few hours shopping at Ikea for Clayton's table and chair, a set of storage shelves, boxes, a nice activity rug and another shelving unit for the backyard. Once we got home, DH and myself were busy shifting the table out of the room, threw away all the clutter, cleared up the mess and finally, we both got rid of our old computers.

It was very sentimental for me when I discarded my old Macintosh Quadra 650. I bought it in 2001 when I started my own design company and it had served me well for 10 good years! I felt sad about discarding yet I can't keep it in the house to collect dust. I then realized that some old things just gotta go before the new can take its place.

We spent the entire day clearing up and by the time we finished, we were dead beat and were too tired to assemble Clayton's new furniture. I forgot to take a photo of the room before it was cleared :(

So this was Part 1.

at 8:00 PM

Do you have a webcam? Are you shy about showing your friends or online friends your live video? I'm sure most of us have heard about instant messengers and online chats. Now, you can perform your video 'live' online and your friends can watch you via the web based messenger. Don't worry about having your privacy intruded as you can broadcast only to people you select.

And if meeting new friends online is your game, try the chat room and start a discussion or find like-minded friends. With Person.com, you can now share your webcams, chat and connect with those in the cyberworld.

at 12:25 AM

All this while, I have thought that I have a sensitive nose and never bother much about checking for allergies. But last year, my blocked nose got so bad that the ENT had confirmed that I had an allergy called Rhinitis of Post-nasal drip.

I just read that excessive humidity can cause the increase of dust mites and that got me worried. I live in a hot climate with relatively high humidity and during those hot seasons, I would try to stay in the air-conditioned room to avoid excessive perspiration.

It often gets worse during those warm nights as the room becomes stuffy and makes me feel uncomfortable. A whole house dehumidifier seems to be a good solution to a good night sleep and my allergy problems. Dehumidifiers are also available in small and portable ones if you live in an apartment or smaller unit.

If you like to know more about dehumidifiers and understand how it can benefit you and your household, visit DehumidifierTips.com where you will also be shown what kind of dehumidifier is suitable for you.

at 5:54 PM

I've heard so much about the warm sunshine at Florida and its idyllic beaches from our cousin who has lived there in the last 2 years. It took them some months to find their desired house after conducting their market research and speaking to experienced builders in the region.

They did their comparison and research by speaking to several Southwest Florida Home Builders, visited many display homes and townhouses before coming to a final decision. From their experiences, South West Florida New Homes was a great site which provided them all the useful information and resources of home builders in the area. The website also covered detailed information of the counties which made it easier for home buyers to know the area better.

And if you are a new home buyer, you can read all about Southwest Florida and get familiarize with the culture, recreation, business oppportunities and healthcare information in the area. This is definitely a great resource site for any new home builder in South West Florida.

at 9:55 AM

I'm very selective when it comes to buying toys for Clayton. I mean I've never taken interest in children's toys til I became a mum, and I think it is quite common for most people. These days, I will take time to browse through the toy shop and choose only those which I think will benefit him as a growing boy. For instance, I won't buy a toy pistol or plastic sword for him. Personally, I think this will encourage the onstart of violence especially they are at an ignorant age of understanding the danger of such 'real' devices.

Educational toys are an attraction to me, especially those that help to stimulate and challenge his mental abilities. Personally, I would buy him these fun science kits which encourage his sense of curiosity and are educational by nature. Let's look a couple of these educational toys which I found this morning.

At an age where Clayton's vocabulary is exploding so fast, he's learning about bridges, rivers, rocks, cars, construction vehicles trains...etc. This set of Amazing Bridges will help him understand what bridges are architecturally like and their multi uses. Of course, daddy may need to help with the construction but this is where learning really begins too, when there is interaction from parents.

Another that fancies me is this Space Station Crystal Kit. I love the vivid colours of crystals and what a better way to teach Clayton the language of colours. He can now differentiate the common colours: red, blue, gree, black, white, pink, brown..... so these growing crystals will be exciting for him, especially when he watches them grow!

The crystal kit comes with a CD-ROM which makes it a perfect educational video to teach him the wonders of sparkling crystals. After all, children love sights, colours, sounds and the awesome sense of touch.

What kind of toys do you buy for your children?

at 12:48 AM

Tomorrow is an exciting day for us! We will be shopping for Clayton's new room! It's about time that this boy gets his own space, does his boy's things in his space and stop messing around in our home office!

Let me see what I'll be adding to the room: a rack for his toys, some new fun, colourful toys, a set of table and chair for him, a cute animal-shaped carpet, a standing easel with a drawing board, boxes for his puzzles and books...

at 12:43 AM

Allow me to drift back to 2003 when we started our seminar business from home. At that time, DH and myself were still dealing with the debts from our failed restaurant business and we were wearied, disheartened and despondent.

After attending a life motivational seminar in Singapore, I left for Hong Kong for a networking opportunity and that trip was the turning point of our careers, and marks the chapter of our home based business. It was a dream we were desired for a long time but never in our wildest dreams would we think it can come to pass - so fast!

We organized our first event with Ron Kaufman on UP Your Service in 2003 and that marked our success with a record of 1,200 participants packed in the grand ballroom of a hotel. Since, we had been running at least two events a year and to date, we had 8 successful events with top speakers from around the world.

This year, we started exploring someInternet Business Opportunities after attending a couple of Internet Marketing workshops ourselves. As we plan to migrate in a few years' time, we hope to develop multiple streams of income and one of the opportunities would be internet and affiliate marketing. With the internet business, we can continue to enjoy the pleasure of working from home and appreciate this gift of time of full time parenting.

What about you? Do you dream about working from home? If yes, how are you working towards to fulfill this dream of yours?

at 12:30 AM

I've been pretty melancholic lately and in between my chores, parenting and blogging moments, I would think about some snippets of the past.

Today, I recalled my first visit to Melbourne 13 years ago, also around this time of the year. That was my first time in down under and I was excited, delighted and almost intoxicated. Added to these positive emotions, I was looking forward to visit my boyfriend (now my 'ex)!

On the second day upon arrival in Melbourne, we drove to Great Ocean Road and if I could recall clearly, it also coincided with his birthday. The twelve apostles were beautiful, awesome and the coastline in Victoria was ruggedly charming. I fell in love with the ocean, the blue waters, bright skies and rolling waves. I remembered that the weather was stormy on that night in Lorne but thank God we made it in his old Mitsubishi Colt.

That trip was my first experience with horse riding and I got addicted since! He got my itinerary all planned and I visited all the nice places, ate all the good food and had the best times of my life. While he attended classes, I would be having a ball of a time in Melbourne Central shopping with Ken Done and RM Williams as my favourite hideouts.

I love St Kilda and the charming Sunday markets. Since that trip, I had been there 5 times (I think) with different company on different trips. But the lovely ocean waters still looked the same each time except that in the last two years, I noticed that the shops had become trendy, the streets buzzing with more life and there are more modern cafes along St Kilda road.

I think I can go on and on... but then, I have to stop somewhere. Those are fond memories of mine and they will stay for the longest time. They remind me of the good times I had with friends, the wonderful moments that linger, and most of all, they remind me of my journey in life and my growth.

at 12:10 AM

Hey... it's time for another vacation talk here! Let's travel to the city that never sleeps: Las Vegas!

My first trip to Las Vegas was 13 years ago. I could recall the excitement when the tour agent took us for a tour around the grand, luxurious, majestic-looking hotels. I was impressed by the architecture, the grandeur and the beautiful landscape built around the hotels with all the attractions and thematic displays.

If you are thinking of visiting Las Vegas, don't miss this dedicated Las Vegas vacation blog which provides the most comprehensive and detailed information I have ever come across to date. The author takes time to document reviews of most of the Las Vegas hotels and you will also find information of where to shop, eat, play, relax, enjoy, sightsee and win some money!

For me, the detailed information of shopping malls and factory outlets will interest me the most. This is one page I will read up before visiting Las Vegas so that I will hop into the right mall and not waste time on all cos there are just too much activities to keep one busy in Las Vegas, if you know what I mean.

Otherwise, read about the day trips you can take if shopping is not your cup of tea. The author recommends a visit to Laughlin, Mesquite or taking a drive to the California/Nevada border.

These are not all found on the website! To find out more, you ought to visit the blog and read all about it and find what you like.

at 12:01 AM

Whew... the weekend is coming and I am looking to a time of rest, rest and rest. This has been a busy week with Clayton is the house every afternoon and I am almost pulling out my hair! I wonder where his energy comes from some times!

But I am comforted that he comes back with another box of completed Mandarin cards today. He has, in other words, learnt how to read about 100 Mandarin characters! I couldnt' believe it when I saw those cards... I never know he can read these words!

This just proves to me that a child's mind is like a sponge - it absorbs and it absorbs till the water just kept dripping.... it's amazing! See, I'm not a super mom or one of those 'kiasu' ones... his progress is an encouragement for me but I have never stressed him to learn and master these words. I believe learning should be fun and not be forced.

Looking back, Clayton has been to Baobei for almost 9 months and 300 Mandarin characters, to me, is a real achievement for a 2.5 year old :) Yes, I'm beaming.

at 11:56 PM

If you are in sales or marketing, you would understand how important customer relationship management really is. Without a proper system to manage your customers database, you will be wasting money in your business development and marketing efforts.

Dispelling the myths of what many business people think about customer relationship management, AIMpromote specializes in making this process a smooth, easy and efficient one. Instead of loading your sales team with the tasks of learning new software and doing things they aren't trained to do, AIMpromote is able to streamline the processes and do all the work in helping your company achieve competitive advantage.

So consider the value of your sales force. Consider AIMpromote for a efficient and successful customer relationship management system.

at 4:34 PM

Have you heard about the five-second rule? I just read about these interesting findings in Wikipedia this morning and like to share them with you:

"Basically, the five-second rule applies to foods—particularly solid foods—that have fallen to the ground. Normally, customary rules of hygiene dictate that food that has fallen to the ground should be discarded, in order to prevent ingestion of disease-causing agents acquired from the dirty surface. The rule states that if the food is picked up within five seconds, it can still be eaten.

In reality, it is usually safe to eat food from a relatively clean floor. However, the notion that germs from a dirty floor will not reach food for at least five seconds is false. For this purpose, cleanliness is a matter of bacterial or parasitic contamination rather than visible dirt, although the two often go together. For example, sick people attend hospitals, with the result that a hospital floor which has not been decontaminated properly can appear to be relatively clean, while actually being more contaminated than the dirty street outside.

A study on the five-second rule was performed by Jillian Clarke, a high school senior, during a seven-week internship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2003. Clarke and a doctoral candidate named Meredith Agle took swab samples from various floors around campus. They then looked at the samples under a microscope and discovered that they did not contain significant amounts of bacteria. The conclusion was that in most cases, dry floors would be safe to eat from.

However, Clarke also wanted to test the five-second hypothesis in cases where the floor was known to be contaminated. She therefore spread E. coli on both rough and smooth floor tiles in a laboratory, placed pieces of gummy bears and cookies on the tiles for various amounts of time, and then examined the foods under the microscope. All the foods had a significant amount of bacteria in less than five seconds.

In the course of her research, Clarke also conducted a survey to sample opinion on the five-second rule. She found that seventy percent of women and fifty-six percent of men were familiar with the five-second rule, and most utilized the rule in their decisions to eat food that had fallen on the floor. She also found that women were more likely than men to use the rule, and that cookies and candy were more likely to be picked up than broccoli or cauliflower.

Clarke's work won an Ig Nobel Prize for Public Health in 2004.

The five-second rule was also featured in an episode of the Discovery Channel series MythBusters. The results they got from their tests confirmed Clarke’s findings: time was not a factor when food is exposed to bacteria; even two seconds' exposure is more than enough time to contaminate it."

at 9:41 AM

Well, you can tell that I'm browsing beauty and cosmetics stuff this week...

One of the fine organic skincare products I have used is by Dr Hauschka from Germany.

Dr.Hauschka Skin Care encourages the skin to harmonise and balance itself. The three basic steps to a radiant complexion are:

Cleanse: Daily cleansing is needed to remove impurities.

Tone: Apply a toner or conditioner immediately after cleansing. This helps restore firmness and elasticity.

Moisturise: The Dr.Hauschka moisturisers protect and nourish your skin, helping to regulate the moisture content.

Wanna get started, check out this Daily Face Care Kit (For Oily/Impure or Blemished Skin ) - $26.50 (retail: $28.00):

1x Cleansing Cream 10ml, 1x Clarifying Toner 10ml, 1x Normalizing Day Oil 5ml, 1x Facial Steam Bath 10ml, 1x Cleansing Clay Mask 10ml, 1x Rejuvenating Mask 5ml

Buy Skincare Products and Cosmetics - from StrawberryNET.com Free worldwide shipping.

at 8:53 AM

What would our normal reactions be when we hear that someone we know well is a drug addict? Do we shun them or do we show our compassion by thinking of ways to help him?

Education is important as it helps to remove fears, anxieties and over worrying. There are many different types of drug treatment treatments and programs available and the best drug treatment program is one that is chosen appropriately to answer to the needs of the individual involved.

It is not wise to generalize drug rehab treatments as there are different kinds of drug addictions. Other than knowing what these addictions are and understanding the kind of treatments available, one should consult a trained professional to receive the right treatment and be placed in the appropriate drug rehab program.

1800nodrugs.com offers dedicated advice and counselling while connecting these individuals to the these drug rehab programs.

at 8:30 AM

Here's a steal if you are thinking of getting mum a lip color palette for Mother's day.

Retailed at $52, this Anna Sui Lip colour collection is NOW $26! Here's the description:

Lip Color Collection XA ( 5 Color Compact Lipgloss in Anna Sui Cosmetics Bag ) 7.5g

		Lip Color Collection XA: Clear White Shimmer, Coral Pink, Rich Berry Shimmer, Sheer Bright Pink, Shimmering Pinky-Nude
		Consists of five shades for different makeup effect
		Smooth texture & moisturizing
		Ensures long wearing & stay true colors
		Gives your lips a glossy, charming look
		Provides a lip brush for application
		Comes with a stylish pouch to carry around

Buy Skincare Products and Cosmetics - from StrawberryNET.com Free worldwide shipping.

at 10:30 PM

For the last few years, I'm so used to having access to my home broadband that during my last trip to Singapore, I was using a dial-up from a public access computer and it was pathetic.

Loading a page took 'forever' and for the whole time, I was staring blankly on the computer screen, hoping to see the next line of text appearing on the computer screen. Broadband not only has helped to increase my personal productivity but it has 'spoilt' me to the very least. Without broadband, I wouldn't bother watching a digital video or load any high res graphics. It would be time consuming and worse still, it may even crash the system!

Are you 'spoilt' like me?

at 9:29 PM

Hey Ladies,

Do you like to save on your beauty and cosmetic products, plus receive FREE Worldwide Shipping? StrawberryNET is THE online global leader in cosmetics, fragrance, and skincare products offering deals at up to 50% less than retail prices on more than 20,000 products plus Free Worldwide Shipping on ALL sales.

StrawberryNET offers virtually all major international ‘big name’ and department store brands like:

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Check it out! Buy Skincare Products and Cosmetics - from StrawberryNET.com Free worldwide shipping.

at 9:20 PM

I'm quite certain that most of us include a certain amount of vitamins and supplements in our daily regimen. Yet, it is important to buy supplements of premium and trusted quality as you need to get your dollar worth.

Health matters interest me and that explains why I run a health blog too. I just came to know about Peter Lupus' alive at www.nutritionsfinest.com which is known for its cleansing, rejuvenation and restoration abilities. With a host of benefits too long to list here, alive is an all-natural product that can counter a list of ailments due to its combination of natural supplements to offer you optimal health and increased body energy.

Find out more at www.nutritionsfinest.com

at 4:35 PM

Mother's Day is around the corner so I take the opportunity to go online shopping! I spotted this lovely Sterling Silver Double Heart Pendant at Blue Nile, one of my favourite online jeweler.

3 years ago, I saw a silver charm bracelet at Tiffany going for a price so high that I forgot what now! Then, my DH referred me to Blue Nile and lo and behold, I saw the exact same bracelet (in white gold instead of silver) selling at a fraction of the price... I got my brother in law who was coming back to Malaysia to be the 'courier boy' :)

Back to this heart pendant... the two interconnected hearts dangle from chain with each heart laying nicely and catching the light beautifully. $40 at Blue Nile.

And if you like to shop with some discount off Blue Nile jewelry, I found some coupons which you may like to keep handy.

* This is NOT a sponsored post :)

at 10:44 PM

Do you chat online? If you do, take note of KoolIM, a new Web Messenger that allows you to connect with the following instant messenger: MSN, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ and GoogleTalk.

With KoolIM, you don't need to install any of the instant messenger application - that's what I like about it. This is useful if you are travelling and have no access to your own laptop or PC. You can then log in to KoolIM and chat with your friends or family members.

Another feature about KoolIM is that it is not blocked by any FireWall server so you can talk to your friends wherever you are, as long as there is an internet connection.

at 6:33 PM

I was introduced to Lifehacker by Tracy during one of our girly luncheons. Being a WAHM of a 2.5 year old active and curious toddler, I have simply no time to keep track with alot of techie and internet news. So I depend on blog walking and conversations like these to learn and share new things.

If you are into Photoshop and like to learn some new tips and tricks, hop over to Lifehacker for the latest post on Photoshop and Image Editing. I'm heading over to check out the 111 free Photoshop Plug-ins from the Plugin site...

at 10:30 AM

If you like to learn about fashion design, you would be checking out the design schools that offer your desired courses. And if being a chef is your dream, then your search will be the best schools offering the culinary skills training you desire.

And if your passion is to be a professional heating and air-conditioning mechanic, the mechanic-school-directory.com will be a great resource stop to find out all about HVAC certification and courses. Besides offering information for HVAC schools, it is a useful directory for anyone in search for an education and profession in various kinds of mechanic training in auto, diesel, aircraft, motorcycle, marine mechanic and welding.

Those who are keen in the above industries can also check on the industry requirements, career expectations and job opportunities in these fields via the comprehensive directory.
AC industries.

at 9:51 PM

It's only the 2nd day of Clayton's nursery closure and we are already stressed from screaming our heads out, trying to get our active boy to keep our home office tidy, and stopping him from messing with our laptops.

I can see that he is so bored and at times, he'll be reading by himself and other times, he'll insist that I sit down and draw with him. The above photo is the evidence of the 'fun' he's been having!

I'm trying to keep my cool and be as patient as a mother should be but believe me, it's challenging when I have a list of things to do! DH and myself have decided to do up the extra bedroom so that he can have a space of his own.

Till then, I won't be blog walking that much til Clayton returns to his nursery classes...

at 11:23 AM

Oh wow... another online shopping site for my reference and yours! I simply enjoy online shopping for its convenience and flexibility and most of all, it saves me time. Slingshop, a Shopping Comparison Site Offers Video Reviews while you choose, compare, shop and buy your favourite products.

Find hundreds of categories with thousands of products at Slingshop to offer consumers the best prices online. What I like about it is that you can read reviews, rate and compare products on the a long list of categories such as Babies & Kids, Beauty and Cosmetics, Jewelry, Electronics, Toys, Books and much more. It serves as a great shopping resource and reference site for avid online shoppers like myself.

at 10:26 AM

I always have a constant argument with my mum about silver and gold. For her, yellow gold is more valuable and silver is not a precious metal at all. Somehow, I have a preference for white gold and silver but I would buy them in the finished form of costume accessories.

The truth is I don't know that silver is in such a high demand that the it has exceeded the annual production of it. Many collectors and investors have bought silver in the form of silver coins for long term investment. Some have regarded precious metals as a better form of investment over currency and it is safer in the midst of political and social instability. While others chose to invest in buying silver coins for its high appreciation and profitability.

Like to find out more about buying silver, check out Monex, which also provides useful resource and information on buying precious metals.

at 10:20 AM

Being parents of the 21st century is certainly challenging these days. I witnessed it with my own eyes as I thought about my design students who fell between the age group of 16 -15 years old. The rising rate of troubled teens at that age group tend to experience problems related to peer pressure, emotional instability and parental disagreement. At this age where teens fight for independence and freedom of space, they don't like intrusion from parents or guardians into their private lives.

Yet for some parents who seem to be at wit's end in dealing with a troubled teen, some can considered Wilderness Programs For Troubled Teens as an option. It is important to understand the pros and cons before deciding on sending your teen to a program like this as not all may be suited for the programs available.

Parents must also not think that sending a difficult teen to a wilderness program is an easy way out to ease themselves of parental responsibilities or duties. In any case, do consult a counsellor who can assist you in finding the right solution or program for your child.

at 10:15 AM

Just found out today that Clayton's nursery will be shut til 3 May! This is to prevent the spread of the Hand, Foot and Mouth disease as there have been 3 or more confirmed cases of the disease in the school.

I'm wondering how to get on with my work with Clayton hanging around at home for the next one week or so... we've been so used to working in the afternoons without him. With this change, stress levels may be rising... and I've got a design dateline to meet this week :(

It's definitely not easy being a WAHM... what say you?

at 9:24 AM

We need protection for our homes, pets, cars and for that, we'll get a home insurance, pet and car insurance. And for home security, we would consider an alarm system. What about when it comes to the data and emails in our computer, especially those which we like to keep them confidential or away from the eyes of others?

If this has been your concern (it's mine!), check out: "SecureZIP - The next generation of ZIP". Many of us store our personal data such as medical records, bank statements, passwords, financial documents in our personal laptops or computers. And for those who share computers with other colleagues in the office, you have private or confidential emails which you may want to keep secure with SecureZIP’s integration with Microsoft Outlook®.

I just downloaded a free version of the software and you can do just the same by logging on to "www.securezip.com". Not only can you keep data secure with SecureZip, it provides the additional features of compression for your files, which is why it is called the 'next generation of ZIP'. This is great for individuals, small businesses or even large corporations due to its versatility and user-friendliness.

Like to know more, try it out yourself through an easy download or find out more at the website.

at 1:00 AM

I'm seriously upset.... I took this opp tonight and when it came to submission, I got this message and this was within 30 minutes of writing. No doubt it was only $5 for the opp but it was the efforts and time I had put in...

What's going on here???

at 12:24 AM

We are in the seminar business for the last 5 years and enjoying every bit of the work, despite the stress during the marketing months. In the last couple of years, DH and myself made the effort to visit exhibitions and trade shows to keep ourselves abreast of the industry and business developments, so that we can understand the trends of the marketplace better.

I was a graphic designer in an exhibition company for my first job which taught me many aspects of trade show booth designs and spatial displays. I worked closely with exhibition designers to come out with graphics for the exhibition walls, lightboxes and display booths. I had fun meddling with 3-D graphics and enjoyed the thrill of seeing my work in live display.

Trade Show Booths are becoming more creative and versatile these days. Depending on your display needs, you can choose from a wide array of designs and most of them can be assembled easily and portable enough to be carried from one trade show to another. This is cheaper than paying a designer to design an one-off exhibition booth which can only be used once, and be discarded once the booth is dismantled.

A Spacestation portable pop-up system is attractive and one of the nicest display booth. Besides being lightweight and portable, you can achieve a different look by adjusting the face panels. Even poster stands come in various creative designs and styles these days. The slide-in frames are useful with the flexibility of re-usage and are easy for self-installation. This is more cost saving than getting your posters custom-framed, in which case, you may not be able to reuse the frame again.

What's often overlook is that a trade show booth with a professional finish can affect the branding and corporate identity of the company. Even the choice of banner stands, poster stands and booth furniture can give your company's image an additional boost! Thus, it is important to choose the right booth to lend the company a good image and impression to the visitors present in the exhibition.

at 2:55 PM

I've been doing a lot of pondering and reflections lately. I'm not sure if I'm hitting the mid life crisis but my memory bank is working hard, bringing back many thoughts of yesteryears to my mind.

I start to recall snippets of childhood, teenage years, early adulthood... snippets of good days, fun times, happy occasions, love notes, hurting moments, painful memories, shattered dreams, wounded hearts and broken toils.

All of a sudden, I'm sentimental again, pondering over regrets and failures of life. I struggle to balance those negative thoughts with positiveness, gratitude and thankfulness... I am afraid to dwell in them. I am afraid of confusion and pain.

I know I'll never find answers to the many things that happen in my life. Things that make meask, 'Why God? Why did I do the things I did? And why didn't I do the things I should?'

Yet, amidst these confusion, uncertainties, fears, disappointments, pain, hurts and the cloud of negativity hovering over my head, I know there is a Saviour Friend. He is there to hold me, comfort me, accept my mistakes, heal, restore, comfort and love.

In faith, I let Him take His place, show me the way, bring me the comfort and reassure me with His grace. In Him, I find forgiveness, I receive healing. Before Him, I shed those tears, I look up, I move on.

Even if I made the worst mistakes or commit the worst sin in my life today, I know choosing Him as my Saviour Friend is the BEST decision I have made in my life on earth.

With that in place.. I carry on... I hang on.

at 11:20 PM

I was tagged by Shopping Mum on a serious and 'tough' one on My Last Post...

Well, let's assume I know well ahead of time to be prepared for this... so I would like to:

• donate my organs
• ask that DH take good care of Clayton
• tell Clayton I love him and he's the best gift from heaven
• ask Clayton to be a good Christian and love God with all his heart
• tell my mother, brother and DH that I love them and I want to see them in heaven
• invite my mum and brother to know Jesus - He's the truth, the way and the life
• ask my brother to take good care of my mum that she has a happy retirement
• give part of my savings to my mum and charities

• thank these wonderful friends of mine who played such a big part of my life. I want to them to know that I love them and appreciate them: Yarris, Suat, Debra, Tracey, Judy and family, Raymond Lee, Daniel Chua, Dayna, Pas Lim & Pas Marion, Tracy Tan & David, Kim Meng, Eliza & Jason, Shirley & Stan Walker, Bro Cheong & Sis Rock, Rosalind Lo and many others who have been such a blessing to my life, who have loved and accepted me for being me.

• thank all my friends in the blogosphere - you add meaning to my online world

Ok... I'm not sure if anyone likes this tag but if you are tag and you don't like to do the post, I won't be upset... after all, it can be a 'sensitive' post to some :)

Sesame (If you have time, ok?)
Bro Bokjae
ParisBeaverbanks

at 10:20 PM

This afternoon, DH suggested that we checked out a newly launched show house/display home after our lunch with our good friends. We took a tour in two of the properties and were very impressed with the quality finishes and modern designs of the interiors.

The properties were complemented by a spacious garden and park for families and a state-of-the-art clubhouse for the residents. With the sophisticated architecture, I would believe that the property management company should look into the Association Software to allow the property managers to connect efficiently with the residents or homeowners. The software helps to organize and track maintenance requests, build a closer community among home owners via bulletin boards and help foster closer relations between the property manager and the residents.

Most importantly, the property managers can manage these solutions on remote via the Internet.

at 9:47 PM

We had lunch with Tracy and David at Sao Nam at Plaza Damas this afternoon. We haven't met David since he came back from China so it's nice to meet up since Clayton misses Uncle David.

The food was good, yummy but unfortunately the serving portions didn't please the men. I enjoyed the coconut beef and the tamarind chicken was not too bad.

I kinda like the decor of the restaurant. It is cosy and the raw cement floor finish complements the huge lighting feature... nice place for a quality meal... but I wouldn't recommend for big groups unless you are ready to order more servings. Know what I mean?

at 10:19 AM

I am into Part 5 of my Detox series in my health blog. Do you know that detox is also is number one step to drug addiction recovery? Basically, a drug addict who has been dependent on the use of drugs needs to train the body to stop this dependency and be weaned off drugs. With various methods to drug detox, the natural way would be NewLife Detox where vitamins, minerals, sauna, exercise and other wellness approaches are used.

Sometimes a drug rehab treatment program needs to be followed for those who are addicted to certain drugs such as heroine and cocaine. The program involves counselling and guidance to provide drug addicts the tools to rekindle the confidence to follow the road to recovery.

at 10:15 AM

Have you heard about the exchange of Technorati Favourites Exchange that is getting popular in the blogosphere initiated by Dosh Dosh? If you haven't and would like to know more, head down to my Technorati Favourites Exchange post at my home office women blog.

And if you are keen to exchange Technorati Faves with me on this blog. Click

and drop me a comment with your fave link.

Check out the benefits that tag along with this exchange!

at 1:04 AM

Wanna know who has the largest osCommerce Template membership site in the internet? I'll tell you in a minute. Not only is it the largest, it offers the best value of a three month membership for only $89 while other companies may be charging a whooping $150 per design. And did I mention that the $89 allow an unlimited download of templates within the 3 months?

This is a perfect bargain for web designers who not only can transfer this good value to their clients but present them with a whole lot of creative templates. Though I'm not a web designer, it is so timely for me as I'm currently planning to start an online store.

I browse through some of the templates and the designs are professional, creative and very nicely done. Check out some of my favourites.

This is only one of the few pretty templates if you are looking at setting up a kids' online store. The bright and happy colours and attractive photos will truly bring delight to your visitors.

And there is this stylish art and photography one which is captivating and dramatic. Don't you just love that sexy body creatively tucked in the feminine tulip?

The focus point on this flower store template draws your visitors literally to the store. All you need is to add your flower photographs and you have a complete store ready to go!

OK... you guys may know I have a shopping blog and I adore shoes! Maybe I may think about an online shoes store in the future and this template may come in handy.

Enough said... before I sign off... the company who offers these fabulous and professional templates? The OsCommerce Cafe, who not only offers great value for 3 months membership, but 6 and also one year... all depending on your needs and preferences.

If you like any of the templates, point it to your web designer and you just do the art direction. It's probably cheaper than designing a template from scratch and what more, you can have the flexibility of launching a couple more stores.

at 12:47 AM

I received a phone call right after the previous post. A good friend read the post and decided to cheer me up via a phone call - I was touched - I didn't expect that - it was a nice surprise.

That reminds me of what friends are for. I don't have many good friends here and sometimes, I do feel lonely. I used to talk a lot more, speak my mind and talk my heart freely to good friends. But, I am not sure if I'm growing older, I just don't that much anymore.

It's still nice to get a call like this - thank you, Dexter. Sorry, I got your honeymoon vacation wrong - it's Italy then Austria...

at 12:43 AM

Being a seminar organizer, I'm a strong believer of quality training and continuing education. And when I am particular on choosing a good training provider who is qualified, professional, reliable with proven track records and equipped with top class facilities.

If you are looking for experts in PHP training and PHP mySQL Training, have a look at OTG, which stands for Open Technology Group. Not only do they offer quality training, their courses are well structured and carefully planned to meet their students' objectives of learning.

The "Fly and Learn" training package is one which is unique on its own. This package allows you to enroll in a course with inclusions of hotel accommodation, air travels and rental car, if you prefer. That sounds like a perfect option for anyone looking for good value and a complete all-inclusive learning package.

at 11:30 PM

Clayton had two falls in the last two days - one after another.

1) He was jumping on the bed and I suspected he slipped and fell. I wasn't in the room. All I heard was a loud cry and when I ran to the room, the poor boy was faced down on the floor... he had a blue black near his eyes... I'm so heartsick.

2) I was making an important phone call and was alerted by a loud cry again. He ran into my room with blood around his mouth - I was shocked and scared! What happened!!! I had never seen so much blood on him! I asked DH what happened (he was in the room with Clayton)... he told me Clayton fell from the chair...

Clayton had a cut below his lips and he might have bit his tongue cos I fed him orange in the evening and he kept screaming.

Guess how I felt? His face is looking so bruised these few days.... sob, sob...

at 9:54 PM

Using sandals or flip flops for fundraising? This must be a cool and creative thought! I've seen people using T-shirts to raise funds for good causes, charities and NGOs but not flip flops.

Bagus has been a specialist in customizing flip flops for companies, associations, schools or individuals for nearly 20 years. With a variety of colours, modern designs and sizes, these flip flops are perfect for corporate gifts, team branding, event giveaways or even fundraising! Imagine organizing a treasure hunt and sponsor the participants with a customized flip flop with your company's logo and brand name - everyone will be walking with your 'brand' around - what a great advertising tool! Many companies have used these flip flops as creative fundraising ideas!

What's unique about Bagus is that the minimum orders can be low and you can be assured of superior service and reliable support. Besides, the order process is simple: just choose your sandal, specify the colours, size, submit your logo and place your order!

Bagus even suggests an innovative way to print your logo - at the sole of the sandal! Though it sounds like a cool idea but some companies may not like their logos to be 'stepped' around... it's just my opinion. But hey, it's your customized flip flop - it's your choice, really.

But know what, I really like those flip flops - they are so trendy, cool, hip and stylish - great for beaches!

at 5:22 PM

I don't know why but I'm feeling tired today. I feel like my head is spinning and my physical body is weak and frail. Mentally, I struggle to focus and I need to take an extra second to gather my thoughts.

My emotions are all over the place. I'm feeling melancholic. I keep reminding myself to be grateful and thankful. Yet, I am overwhelmed with my inner struggles and pain.

I cannot understand what's going on in my head and heart. I smile with a sense of sadness. I am feeling sentimental while struggling for strength to stay focused on the present.

Maybe I am just tired... Maybe I just need rest. Maybe I need a hug. Or perhaps a reassuring pat on my back. Perhaps I miss a friend... maybe I need sleep.... maybe..

at 12:12 AM

In two weeks' time, Dexter will be getting married. I'm so excited for him and his wife-to-be... I'm sure he's so busy with his planning for the big day and his upcoming honeymoon.

They will be touring Italy, Rome and Paris right after their wedding. Knowing Dexter, he's one detailed chap who would do his research thoroughly and plan out his itinerary in details. Initially, he was looking into an all inclusive honeymoon vacation where all accommodation, tours, activities, food and sight-seeing were included in the package. He was hoping that he wouldn't need to worry about 'anything' on his honeymoon so an all inclusive package would be like an ideal choice.

Dexter has done most of his research online and these days, vacation websites are comprehensive with details, photos and information of your travel destination. A travel booking site like Vacations.net offers attractive hotel rates with reviews of real travelers to help you make better decisions in your travel plans.

Like Dexter, I'm one person who can't make any travel plans without digging into my research online. What about you? Do you plan your travel online?

at 11:41 PM

Oh... it's storming out there tonight. The weather has been quite bad lately - hot and humid one moment, and then, thunderstorms, the next. Due to this 'hot-cold' transitions, many people are vulnerable to respiratory illnesses. I'm thankful that I don't have to get out of the office like some people do, so blessed to work from home.

Hmm... looks like it's a nice night to snooze...

at 10:20 PM

I can't resist shoes... especially those I truly adore - for its comforts, designs or simply being unique and different.

I've got 6 pairs of Crocs - 2 Beach, 1 Off Road, 1 Niles, 1 Mary Janes and the most recent addition, a Prima. Don't tell my DH!

I'm that sort of person who can be loyal after a label for a long time. My adoration for Camper shoes is such. I just found out during my last trip to Singapore that the Camper shop is closed for good, I think :(

I'm browsing Camper e-shop again... I smell temptations... my brother in law is coming back from US, he does a good job in being my errand man (*giggles*). Even if you are not a Camper shoe lover like me, you should take a look at their cool website - it's creative, funky, fun and very artistic...

Just to assure you - this is not a sponsored post :)

at 5:08 PM

Has anyone been to North Cyprus? I am enchanted by the beauty of the unspoilt beaches, clear blue waters and the charming landscape it has to offer. It is blessed with more than 300 days of warm sunshine in a year which makes it a relaxing playground for those who enjoy outdoor fun and adventures. In fact, many Europeans have chosen to invest in North Cyprus Property for the fantastic value and convert that to a vacation home for their families and friends. I wouldn't mind visiting North Cyrus after viewing those lovely homes and beautiful beaches.

at 2:21 PM

Ok... this is a little addictive but see, it's really fun!! Have you tried it out? Check out 'My Guy'...

at 1:35 PM

Some friends call me 'travelling mom' and I do have to live up to that name! I took Clayton on his first overseas trip when he was 3 months old - took him in my Baby Bjorn and we hopped up the coach and that was exciting.

Besides Singapore, Clayton has been to New Zealand and Australia, he is trained to be a good traveller cos his mommie is a travel freak :) I am very used to planning my own travel vacations but I know some may prefer to get help through a network or travel company.

Vacation providers such as United Vacation Network assists individuals, families or even corporates by catering to their vacation needs. This may include travel arrangements related to air travel, accommodation booking, tours, itinerary planning, car rentals and more. Usually, vacation providers get good rates from these hotel or tour operators and these savings can be significant in reducing your travel costs.

The choice of planning a vacation depends on your style, personality, preference and needs. And you need to do your own research whether you decide to go Free and Easy or seek advice from a vacation provider.

at 12:20 AM

Fantasy Football is one of the most popular fantasy sports game in the States, favourited over fantasy baseball. My cousin is passionate about fantasy football and will share with us about his draft or the choice of his league whenever we get to meet. While he explains to us how the real-life team players score points based on their performance in the field, we will be trying hard to understand how the game really works. His peers are only keen on high stakes fantasy football as the payout prizes are attractive and set in a upper class venue.

I'm still trying hard to understand how the score points are being calculated, or maybe I should first learn how to appreciate this addictive sports.

at 9:53 PM

This is my first attempt with digital scrapbooking. Heard so much about it but never know how til I came across heartvault.com. It's still on alpha and may not work satisfactorily but for me, it's still fun to try it out. So, what do you think of my first attempt... wanted to add more photos but there is some scripting problems with the site.

Anyone has a good scrapbooking site to recommend?

at 4:44 PM

I would like to share about this beautiful and professional childminding place in Singapore called, 'Garage Adventures'.

On my last trip to Singapore, I left Clayton at Garage Adventures for 3 hours so that he can have a fun time of enjoyment with all the educational toys while I had some 'me' time. Adeline at GA took pride in what she does and you can tell by a brief conversation with her that she adores children. Her passion for children explains why GA is so popular with the expatriate community and parents would leave their children with Adeline when they need to run errands or get a break for themselves.

GA is well-equipped with safe and educational toys, many of which are imported and not available locally. Adeline keeps the place clean, conducive and appealing for the children. She was telling me that she would spend couple of hours cleaning the place and the toys after the last child went home.

Clayton was so 'at home' at GA that he wasn't worried about me going off without him! He enjoyed exploring and playing with all the train sets, pretend play sets, slides, tricycle, scooter or just simply fixing puzzles.

So if you are heading down to Singapore for a vacation and like to leave your children in safe and trusted care, give a call to Garage Adventures, located at Far East Shopping Centre, Orchard road. Adeline charges S$10 per hour after 1.30pm and $15 per hour for the morning nursery sessions, Mon - Sat.

at 1:24 PM

One of the places in my 'must see' list is the UK... London, Italy, Spain, Prague are the tops in the list! Yet, I have heard much about how expensive accommodations can be in the UK where even 3 star hotels can cost around $100. So it is worth spending time researching and comparing hotels and prices once you have decided where you are travelling.

With so many accommodation choices and options, how do you go about with choosing the right place to stay? Here are my suggestions on choosing a hotel in the UK:

1) It is useful to find out WHERE exactly the hotel is located.
Is it near the heart of town? How far is it from the airport? Is it near any places of attraction?

2) What sort of rooms are available?
Deluxe? Superior? Bedding configuration? Smoking/Non-smoking floors?

3) What are the rates for different room types?
Any discounts or promotions available during your travel period? Does the rate include breakfast or taxes?

4) Are credit cards accepted?
The types of credit cards the hotels accept. Some smaller establishments such as Bed and Breakfast or Guest Inns accept only cash.

5) Can you book online?
If yes, will you be issued a confirmation number? What are the cancellation policies? Any additional charges when booking online?

6) What are the facilities available in the hotel?
Internet connectivity? Business services? Restaurants? Kitchenette? Leisure or recreational available?

7) Is it child-friendly?
This is important as not all hotels esp adult hotels accept children. Some hotels only accept children above a certain age.

With the above suggestions, you can also find out detailed information of hotels and plot out your itineraries with information available online. View the different kinds of accommodations from country retreats to classic hotels, to luxury ones or those in the heart of the city.

Whatever it is, do your research and plan before you travel. This will ensure a smooth vacation for you and your family.

at 1:20 PM

It was 1K Tuesday yesterday. I saw the $100 twice but as expected, no chance at all. While waiting for more 'big' opps, I chatted with Samm and Amy and told each other that if anyone were to grab a $100 opp, we will get a free makan.

I guessed all of us waited and waited til.... cannot tahan lor. Samm slept at 4am, Amy - I haven't asked her and me, 2plus. This morning, I was like a zombie and before I could take another wink, my little Clayton jumped on me with his ABC book and asked me to read together. Huh, read? When I'm half asleep and struggling to open my eyes?

This morning, the $500 appeared late and I believed that every postie is waiting cos the dashboard showed that no one had taken a big, big opp. So I waited... then I had to attend to Clayton when he came home from school and I knew the opp would be released during that time. And true enough, it did... and again, no chance lah...

Motherhood.. your life revolves around your kid/s. Agree?

at 12:00 PM

I got an email from a friend, Sharlene who is currently living in London with her hubby. They took a holiday during the easter weekend to Brussels and Brugge and had a great time.

A drama took place then during the trip. Her purse was pick pocked but thank God that she realised it in time and her purse was safe. She listed downsome pointers you might find useful when you travel:

- always put your wallet in your front pants pocket

- put only minimal cash and cards in your wallet

- use a money belt for the rest of your cash

- do not be friendly, nor enter into conversation with anyone. i.e. just give an assertive 'No' and walk away briskly no matter who the person is. whether needy, busker, friendly local, etc. approach everyone as suspicious. sad as it is, this is what the world has become. can't trust anyone. risky to be the good samaritan :P

- make sure that person keeps a distance from you if you want to engage them

- travel in big groups (don't travel alone)

- be aware of your surroundings and people following you

- be sensible about the street you use

- always padlock your backpack as you walk the city

- never loose sight of your bag, better still, keep your hand on it all times

- scan copies of your passport, drivers licence and credit card numbers and store it in your online email account (yahoo,gmail). of course be sensible in what and how you store your credit card numbers online (use some creativity to encrypt it so that it is not obvious in case your email is compromised. plus there is no need to store the expiry and verification code). in the case of losing your items, you can access it quickly over the internet and cancel your credit cards immediately. visa international can stop your card immediately if you give them your card number. if not, they will have to contact your bank to find your card details (which takes longer)

at 11:30 AM

Like to find out company profiles of businesses in a quick search and click, check out Manta.com, an informative site that contains information of companies. You can also purchase search reports of a particular company, which is useful when you need to do a research for a business deal or partnership.

Conducting a proper and detailed is crucial to the success of a business partnership, launching a marketing campaign for your clients and evaluate your potential business competitors' profiles in the corporate market place.

More than 46 million companies are listed with Manta and you can search companies by categories. Specialized reports are available for purchase if you need to access the company's credibility and financial information.

at 11:20 AM

Looking for travel ideas? Here are the TOP 10 to places spoil yourself rotten:

1.	Maui, Hawaii
2.	Paradise Island, Bahamas
3.	Positano, Italy
4.	Naples, Fla.
5.	Los Cabos, Mexico
6.	Sedona, Arizona
7.	Baden-Baden, Germany
8.	Carmel, Calif.
9.	Bali, Indonesia
10.	Turks and Caicos

at 11:14 AM

I was first introduced to a life insurance policy when I stepped into the working world. At that time, I was skeptical as I wasn't too ready to pay a monthly premium 'for life' (almost). But eventually, I was convinced by the important of securing a policy for critical illnesses and death protection for my loved ones. Besides, life is unpredictable and you just never know.

But these days, insurance policies have taken on a new light. There are various kinds of plans available from general life, to universal life insurance, to For example, with universal life insurance, you not only have the flexibility to adjust your premium according to your needs and budget. Another advantage to this policy is that your account value earns interest at the company's current interest rate -guaranteed to be at least 4% a year.

If you like to learn more about different types of insurance, this is one website that provides you some useful information. You learn about the difference in the types of insurance in the marketplace and how each can fit into your needs. Besides information on life insurance, there is information on pet insurance, health insurance for personal and businesses.

at 9:32 AM

My only niece is developing into a cutie at the age of 14 months. This is her version of a 'funny face'...

at 2:06 AM

The only time I took up a personal loan was when I needed money for my further studies 10 years ago. I was thankful that the loan came via friend and I didn't have to approach banks or any loan providers.

I have always been skeptical about payday loans, simply because it can lead to a debt trap for those who have no discipline with money. Some tend to use the quick cash to tie themselves through for a period and when pay day comes, the money is not used to pay the loan. Thus, it leads to bigger debts and more financial trouble.

I do agree that a personal loan can be useful and helpful if used wisely and for a proper cause, not for gratifying personal desires to buy expensive things and later on, realized that you are faced with the issue of overspending.

Thus, be wise with your finances. If you need money for emergency, consult a financial advisor and discuss your options before making a hasty decision.

at 8:18 PM

The 'Do Follow' Movement continues and is spreading fast at the PPP forum.

If you are a PPP postie and would like to be part of the movement of removing the 'no follow' code from your comments box, so that visitors to your site can benefit from a linky love. Hop over to Tricia's, pick up the script and you are all set to make the official announcement of being a 'DO FOLLOW' blogger.

And if you like a 'I FOLLOW' badge to be placed on your site, head down to Randa's.

at 9:40 AM

My close uncle had undergone a couple of brain tumor surgeries 15 years ago and I am truly glad that he survived and conquered this dreaded condition. Today, he is doing fine and a father of two kids. However, the surgeries had caused some memory difficulties and vision problems since.

I have never heard about Gamma Knive radiosurgery which is a revolutionary method of treating patients with brain tumor. In Gamma Knive surgery, no 'knives' are used, instead the targeted beams of radiation is directed at the brain tumor, lesions or growth. Thus, there is no incisions on the head which means recovery process will be faster and the treatment will be accurate and precise.

With Gamma Knive surgery, no X-rays are needed on the brain and the amount of radiation is controlled and exposed only on the treatment area and not the entire body.

at 9:35 AM

I'm running a series of detox information in my Organics and Your Health blog. So if you have no idea what a detox is or would like get some tips on how to ensure a successful detox plan, head over to my Health blog. I'm now at Part 3 and there are few more to go.

Here's to your success in living a cleansed, cleared and rejuvenated life!

at 1:43 AM

I first visited Las Vegas more than 10 years ago...

This morning, I was watching some snippets of this busy and lively city on the Travel and Living channel and I was so impressed with the fast developments in Las Vegas real estate today. Bigger, taller and more luxurious hotels have been built in the last few years with great sights of display to attract more visitors from all over the world.

I would love to visit Las Vegas just for the fountains of Bellagio, the beautiful architecture and applauding state-of-the-art entertainment displays in this city that never sleeps. One thing I know for sure - a vacation to Vegas will never be boring, listless and restless... the activities, entertainment, dining, shopping and attractions are simply endless.

at 11:05 PM

These days, it seems common to hear complaints about pain in the joints and hip area. I wonder if the modern lifestyle that we lived had led to these common ailments. Few months ago, mum complained about her hurting joints and after consulting a family doctor, I bought her some glucosamine chrontin supplements.

Actually, one should not take joint pain lightly as early diagnosis may mean getting the proper and minus the need for any surgical procedures. The best thing to do is to consult a certified orthopaedic instead of a GP who may not be trained to analyze certain pain condition. Pain killers usually bring temporary relief and supplements may not be the correct way to deal with joint pain or knee condition.

at 11:03 PM

I stumbled upon Fliptrack, a cool software that allows you to create your own music video. All you need is to upload your photos and choose the list of licensed music available at Fliptrack.

Try it out!

at 8:30 PM

I met my auntie during my grandma's funeral two weeks ago. She is mum to a close cousin of mine who has been behind bars for the last 10 years. He is a close grandson to my grandma so he had asked for permission to pay his last respects to my grandma at the funeral.

Meng had got into bad company in his early adulthood and became a drug addict under peer pressure and wrong influence. I asked his mum about him during the funeral and with tears in her eyes, she said, "I hate him". It was disheartening for a mum to utter such words about her son but I knew that she was hurting.

Due to the lack of proper counselling, Meng did not succeed in his addiction recovery and his family did not know how to provide the support he needed. If only the family was well aware of the different addiction treatments available through good drug rehabilitation network, Meng's road to recovery would be promising.

The article on addiction recovery at RehabilitationHQ provides a comprehensive insight on the recovery journey for both the drug addicts and their families. It explains clearly the emotional and mental issues involved when a commitment is made to overcome this struggle.

Addiction counselling can help to prevent a relapse during the drug treatment process and such counselling involves not only the drug addict but the family too. It is important to receive the support of loved ones during the addiction recovery process and to help in dealing with self-hatred, loss of self-esteem and shame.

Another helpful article for my auntie's family is the "Survival Guide to a Loved One's Addiction". It lists down some helpful suggestions that the family can use, that they must first regain the confidence and strength before they can offer emotional support to the person suffering from addiction. It is important for the family to recognize that they are not alone in this and there is a support network that they can receive help from.

They should also understand the different drug treatment options available and how a drug rehab can benefit Meng in the long run. Proper counselling can prepare the family and the addict emotionally, mentally and physically while receiving the appropriate treatment.

My auntie and the rest of the family definitely needs the strength to overcome the hurts and pain they have experienced over the years. Meng is due to be out of jail end of this year. I pray that he will enter a new lifestyle with new strength and hope as he reunites with his family.

at 10:07 PM

A while ago, our house experienced a black out for half an hour. I hate black outs... it disrupts our activities, it gets warm and stuffy, there is no power to do anything, it just left me sitting around in boredom...

But tonight was different. I had an emotional upheaval almost throughout the day, from a 'boring' anniversary with no celebration and an active 2.5 yo who couldn't stopped messing up the room and refused to take his nap. He wouldn't stopped meddling with our computers and I was annoyed with dealing with his disobedience.

It got so bad that I shouted at him just now. I guessed I was lashing out on him for a number of reasons. Suddenly, I felt bitter and stressed with this whole thing about motherhood. It sounded trivial if I were to tell you that I am tired of eating cold lunches and dinners, because I had to feed Clayton first whenever we dined out. Then, I ended up eating without really enjoying the food at all. Half the time, I would be eating the leftovers with the tendency to hurry my meals so that we can get out of the restaurant. How many of you mothers know what I mean?

It sounded so selfish but I realized that it was getting into me. I had allowed all the other negative emotions to overwhelm me that I didn't even know that they were bottled up to an unhealthy level.

The blackout caused me to quiet down while patting Clayton to sleep in the dark. I felt sorry, lousy and convicted of my bitter actions and emotions. I asked God and Clayton for forgiveness. I forgave DH for being insensitive and unsupportive and I forgave myself. I prayed for strength and patience, for wisdom to be and not to be.

This blackout was meant for me...

at 1:05 AM

I'm going to be thick-skinned again and do another self-promotion: Have you, my readers voted for me in these categories:

Hottest Mommy Blogger

Best Shopping Blog

Best Blog Design

If you haven't, all it takes is a minute to register and you are eligible to cast your votes. You can even nominate a blog for the categories listed in the Blogger's Choice Awards. Actually, I have fun browsing all the nominated blogs and am pleased to see some of my favourite bloggers being nominated and voted for. Some of the interesting categories include 'Most Obnoxious Blogger' , 'Worst Blog of All Time', 'Freakiest Blogger' and 'Best Gossip Blog'.

Interestingly, the top 3 popular nominations are from the "Best Celebrity Blogger" category and rosie.com is leading at more than 1,200 votes! One of my favourite blogger is close to leading at 113 votes for being the "Most Obnoxious Blogger". Guess who is that?

Anyone is eligible to participate in this fun award which is taking place now till the last minute of 22 May 2007.

The team behind these web awards is none other than the people who have helped me to earn some cash in my paypal account since last November. They are creative, fun, crazy, hot and they truly rock! The results will be announced in the upcoming Postie Con.

Another reminder here: don't forget to cast a vote on me!

at 12:27 AM

This 2.5 yr old boy was entertaining himself with flash cards in the coach from KL to Sin.

I had no complaints about him. Though he got a little bored at some point and tried to get down the seat, he cooperated when I gave him that stern look.

Travelling alone with a toddler means I have no space to bring big items of entertainment for him so flashcards are simply the best. Besides, there is so much we can do together with these cards. And somehow, he never gets bored with them :)

at 9:27 AM

I am sitting here wondering... what is the most romantic experience I have ever had? I am quite 'big' on romance in my younger days (not that I'm that old now!) and I am swept by love notes, sweet nothings and gestures of love.

I am hopeless in writing love poems but I can be creative in warming a person's heart, if I really want to... and yes, I can say that I am truly a romantic person. My first boyfriend was a romantic guy (not sure if he is now...) but I recalled those short love poems that could send tears streaming down my cheeks. The most romantic thing I ever did was to send him a Garfield postcard 'everyday' when he was in Taiwan for army training for a couple of weeks. Everyday, I would send a different postcard and I would just grabbed any card with Garfield in the store at that time. I wonder if he still keep those postcards though...

Know what, I think romance starts from heart. If you are not that romantic sort but like to be one, take heart! Here's one romantic story to get you inspired and if you need more ideas, you can read more stories and love letters along the way.

Are you 'big' on romance as well? If yes, what is the MOST romantic thing you have done for someone you love?

at 12:57 AM

After a long 9 months wait... I finally got my first check from Google! Yippee! Though it's not alot of money but it's my first internet marketing check of $122.94 (USD). I can now echo the excitement of many others who received their first checks!

Ok... I'm doing what everyone is doing... take a photo of my first check. It is memorable. It is special. It is exciting. It is a sense of achievement! What am I going to do with the money huh? Maybe frame the check? LOL.

How did you feel when you receive your first Google check?

at 10:13 PM

Since purchasing my own domain last year, I have been hosting my 3 blogs and many other business domains with Hostgator.

For only $9.95 a month, I chose the Baby Croc plan, which is also the Most Popular Shared Hosting Plan. This plan comes with support for unlimited domains, 5GB disk space, and 75GB bandwidth, 99.9% uptime guarantee, free scripts, 30 day money back guarantee, and the online web site building software provided.

The 24/7 customer service support is another draw for an internet newbie like me. I can chat LIVE with the online support when I run into an error or technical difficulty.

Seriously... if you are looking for a good hosting company, choose Hostgator. And if $9.95 is too much for your budget, choose the Hatchling at $6.95!

at 10:04 PM

I first met Jacklyn when Stuart, my good friend, also the internet marketing expert, was here for a workshop a month ago. Jacklyn was truly an inspiration. The night before I met her, I was on msn with Stuart and after reading her profile page (my favourite page whenever I blog walk), I couldn't wait to meet this lady.

This petite, soft-spoken lady had an inspiring story to tell and no one had told it better than herself in her blog. A while ago, I was reminded about being grateful of who I am and what I have, and how gratitude can affect our mind, heart, soul and entire wellbeing after reading one of her blog posts. I totally agree with her that"Being thankful takes away sorrow, regret, anguish, heartache, stress, worry, depression and fear."

Being grateful sets us free to achieve greater visions and dream bigger dreams. Most importantly, it releases the inner energy, health and beauty we all possess. As we embrace gratitude and thankfulness in our hearts, it reminds us of our Maker, and it leads us further to "attract the good things of this earth".

at 10:00 PM

You have heard of Flickr and probably a registered member too but have your heard about Flickrcash?

While Flickr allows you to store, search, share and sort photos, Flickr connects image buyers with image sellers. It is a platform with unique features to assist image buyers to find and search for images easily and effectively.

Flickrcash provides installable lightbox grids and slideshows for publicity and marketing of images so that your clients can view and select their desired images. The powerful keyword search translates your search results into thumbnails on your screen, allowing you and your clients to have a quick overview, saving time and increasing productivity.

Image owners can sell their images through Flickrcash while ensuring prompt payments and licenses being automated for public inspection.

Register for a free account to test out Flickrcash.

at 4:47 PM

Finally, we have confirmed our first staff for our seminar business. MT is a qualified telesales consultant for the last 10 years and we trust that she can deliver the job to our satisfaction.

Engaging the right staff is always a challenging task for many companies these days. A friend told me that it was hard employing someone who could share the same passion and vision. And I truly agree.

Let's see how it goes with our first employee - MT. Work begins next Tuesday... till then.

at 9:48 AM

I love the sea though I'm not a underwater person. Since my teenage years, I had enjoyed the ocea breeze and could still remember how excited I was on my first sailing trip with my Japanese teacher and few classmates.

Whenever I visit ports and sailing sites during my vacation, I would dream about owning one of these sailboats one of these days... err, what's the point of buying one unless I have access to the deep blue seas in big wide oceans.

Owning a boat would also mean putting in conscientious efforts to maintenance your boat, much like keeping your car in good condition through regular maintenance at the workshop. One essential investment is a good bayliner boat cover to protect your boat from the harmful sun rays, dirt, harsh weather conditions and pests. Choosing a boat cover requires proper research and careful selection, just like fitting yourself in your wedding suit or gown.

Need to learn how to choose the right boat cover? Check out boatcoversadvice.com

at 9:33 AM

Clayton had recently learnt to enjoy fun rides like these ones. What I appreciate about him is that whenever the ride stops, he will get down willingly without throwing any tantrums. It is nice to see that he is having some toddler's fun... I can't recall a short 2 minutes ride can bring so much joy to a little kid.

He reminds me of the little things that make us smile... there is so much to learn from a child.

at 12:44 AM

I first came to know about Stylehive while doing my usual blog walking on some shopping blogs. As the name suggests, Stylehive is a place where you find style... your own and others. What is nice about Stylehive is that you can get lots of good ideas, tips and resources from others, share and learn from one another. This is a great resource and one-stop place to keep myself updated on what's cool, stylish, trendy, fun, quirky, unique, beautiful...

Peter Belisi, the bartender turned fashion director has his hive where he shares and promotes his favourite designers and his own designs. It is good to learn from someone who has a good eye for fine, luxury fashion and beautiful things. I spend a few moments browsing through his hive and my, I will be bookmarking many of his recommendations. And yes... I'll be following his hive too!

at 12:40 AM

If you are looking for an online store for beauty and skincare products, check out Strawberrynet.com. Not only are the products offered at discounted prices, the brand names of most skincare and cosmetic labels found here are truly impressive! From Le Mer to Clarins, to Lancome to Strivectin; Mac to Shu Uemura, Stila to Laura Mercier... don't buy anything from any online stores till you compare prices at Strawberrynet.

at 12:25 AM

Since I was a child, I was taught the important of savings. In fact, I had my first savings account when I was 6 years old. In those days, the bank will come to the school and encourage all children to start a savings account. Not sure if they still practise this good trend.

Basically, there are many types of savings account these days - unit trusts, fixed deposits, savings bond, investment bonds, to name a few. There are also good savings plans to help parents prepare for their children's future such as Child Trust fund, Future fund or Bonus Account.

It is helpful to educate children on how they should look after their money and be good stewards at a young age.

at 12:15 AM

I bought my 6th pair of Crocs last Sunday... it's the ballet looking - Prima. I never expect myself to own of those dainty looking shoes. I am also glad that mum chose the gold colour one... nice choice.

We had a lovely day as a family. Had lunch at Dian Xiao Er.. and the herbal roast duck was yummy! I was truly glad that Clayton had been an angel all day except for the time when he had to stop playing at the playground when the rain came in. I bought everyone a dozen of soft donuts... and I queued for half an hour!!

Have you been to Vivo City? It's a good place to walk and shop but just keep in mind that Sunday is packed with families and people!

at 12:04 AM

A lot of successful people have humble beginnings and I like to share that Peter Belisi is one of them. A bartender who became a well known, respected and reputable fashion designer today, Peter has a inspiring story to tell.

In desperation to succeed after the birth of his first child, he gathered all he had and bought a collection of ties. Being surrounded by Palm Beach trendsetters had surely influenced him with a good sense of high taste and appreciation of fine things. Many soon came to notice and comment him for his good taste on his tie collection and that was the birth of a new idea and the launch of the Belisi label.

Today, the Belisi label is a luxurious brand name among those who good taste. Peter hasn't forgotten his humble beginning. He introduces meaning to his fashion products by contributing part of the purchase to a good cause. At Belisi, it's about 'Luxury with Meaning'.

at 11:14 PM

I would like to inform all my readers that I have officially join the 'DO FOLLOW' movement. What it really means is that if you post a comment in any of my blogs: home office women, organics and your health, doris go shopping and this blog, you will be getting some free linky love from me! Enabling 'DO FOLLOW' allows the Google spiders to do their job and find your links in the comments box.

What does this mean, you ask? This means that you get more links to your blog which can help to increase your Page Ranking with Google.

To avoid spam, allow comment moderation in your blogs. Join the 'TO FOLLOW' movement!

at 9:57 AM

I've always been 'big' on online hotel bookings all these years. And I got really busy with accommodation searches during our New Zealand trip in 2004, as we were travelling for 28 days - the longest ever since becoming parents!

Usually, I will conduct my search in Google for my desired destination before checking out the details for each accommodation. Planning a vacation online is so much easier and convenient. Every search is via the click of the mouse and you get your results almost instantly which allows comparison and evaluation.

I'm already doing my search for our family vacation though it is still months away. Believe it or not, I get the thrill out of viewing accommodations and reading about what these hotels and vacation homes have to offer... it gets me all geared up for my holiday!!

Even my non internet-savvy brother is talking about booking online for his upcoming family trip to Hong Kong. And of course, I have the pleasure to evaluate and compare hotels for him. Besides, I am familiar with Hong Kong and its surrounds. Not that he's mentioning about Hong Kong, I'm feeling the 'itch' to visit this buzzing city again.

Hotel Reservations is one good site to check for hotel or vacation accommodations. The rates are competitive and the discounts are attractive for selected hotels. All you need to do is to key in your travel dates and desired destination and you can a glance of all the suggested hotels with their special rates nightly, hotel information and even a location map.

You can practically find a hotel, motel, resort or vacation in any part of the world at Hotel Reservations. There are also vacation packages if you are not the 'free and easy' sort of traveller. So if you still have not tried making an online hotel booking, try it now.

at 12:41 AM

I'm sure most of you have used or browsed through web directories or search engines from time to time. Sometimes, it can be challenging clicking through different categories to get your desired results.
Masterseek is a search engine dedicated for business owners and companies. With easy access to more than 45 million companies throughout 75 countries, this search engine allows you to locate information of company profiles and contact information, with useful information on the products and services.

You can even conduct a search in finding business opportunties, network and contact in your home country or internationally. What more, if you have a product or service, this may be a good platform to showcase it globally.

at 12:08 AM

Wanna learn more about internet marketing, here is a blog where a Reformed Adult Webmaster Reveals Cutting-Edge Marketing Secrets. You can read all about internet marketing strategies and find information related to PayPerClick advertising, affiliate marketing and other techie resources in this simple and fairly new blog. I think the blog header is still in the making and probably some photos can be added to the blog to break out from the white background interface.

at 11:56 PM

My blogging buddy, Adam nominated me for the Hottest Mommy Blogger at Blogger's Choice Awards. But hor... he forgot to vote for me!

Then, my best pal also voted my shopping blog as the Best Shopping Blog... thank you, Tracy. PLEASE VOTE!

So I'm taking this time to do a little self-promotion... VOTE FOR ME!

at 11:47 PM

I've been trying to convince DH to change the curtains in our bedroom. Currently, the curtains we are using are made of thin cotton which can be nice if used to shield off the mild sunshine. But when it comes to blocking off the strong sunlight in mid afternoons, they can be hopeless. Due to that, Clayton has refused to take his naps as daylight means play time!

I have seen some of these beautiful Roman Blinds and Roller Blinds which are modern and tasteful as they add enhancement to the bedroom. They are neat, practical, functional, stylish and most importantly, low maintenance! These are better than traditional curtains which can be difficult to maintain, need washing and inflexible.

at 11:46 PM

Like to earn some money through your blog by reviewing advertisers' products and services. I am pleased to announce that Bloggerwave is officially launched. Submit your blog and you should get a reply within 48 - 72 hours. Upon approval, you can feel free to review the service/product of your interest and your choice.

Another great platform for advertisers to spread news about their products and services through bloggers, which not only serves as a creative way of advertising but an effective method to increase traffic to the sites.

Register now and start earning!

at 11:11 PM

Here is a new web directory that requires you to bid for position. It is different from most web directories where your submitted site will be 'lost' in the thousands or millions of sites out there. With Big Web Links, your placement is determined by your bid amount. In other words, pay more and you stay in the top 10 listings in the home page with the top 20 in the top links page.

So if you want your site to be in top 10, make sure you increase your bid amount.

at 8:13 PM

Alright... this post is dedicated to my special friend of 20 years...

I knew RL when I was 17 and he was in his sweet 16. We hit off so well and in no time, were buddies who spent hours chatting on the phone and shared leisure outings together. We even got popular with some kids in the church and took one of them to the zoo. Those were the days...

Our friendship eventually developed into a serious courtship for a few years and things took a turn during our early adulthood. We went separate ways and were out of touch for a few years. It was a bitter sweet feeling for me at times... sweet in remembering the fun and memorable times we had and bitter in recalling the sad and hurting periods of our lives.

How to forget someone who taught me how to drink cafe latte, who influenced me to appreciate Kenzo, Paul Smith and Mulberry and got me so keen on horseback riding!

Through it all... we met up again last year for a coffee session and that was the beginning of a restoration in our friendship. We kept in touch via sms every now and then. Being across the miles from each other, we don't get to catch up as often as we like. Also, he is so terribly busy with his consulting business and knowing him, his sporty lifestyle dominates a big part of his schedule too.

We finally sat down for a quiet and pleasant dinner on Sunday night. We talked about our lives, work, business, friends, family... and everything else. What I didn't tell him was that he still appeared in my dreams for the last 10 years and I still didn't know why. I think it may freak him out when he reads this :) I can imagine that (LOL).

Anyhow, now he can't complain that my blog is all about parenting and Clayton. Actually, it is a place where I stay in touch with friends and family from all over the world and of course, they can feel free to skip my paid posts in between.

So here's a post dedicated to you, RL, my treasured pal, my trusted and bosom friend. I hope you are sobbing uncontrollably now (hehe) I'll be so happy if you would drop a comment too.

at 8:04 PM

It was another good trip to Singapore. I was desperate enough to hop into a cybercafe in Far East Shopping Centre ( a discovery for me!) to check my emails and do a quick blog posting in 3 of my blogs. I even did one PPP opp (Lol)

I had a lovely time with my family on Saturday at Vivo City. It was great that my mum agreed to go 'walk walk' and had lunch with my brother's family. Though it was challenging going out with 3 toddlers, it was worth the efforts, really. I convinced mum to try on Prima from Crocs and I was glad that I could buy that for her Mother's day gift. Now I know she has good slips for her feet.

My evening was very pleasant as I got round to catching up with a close friend whom I knew for 20 years. There were gaps in our friendship in the 20 years but we could still feel comfortable with each other - that was nice. He had often complained that I didn't blogged about him so I would in the next post - dedicated to RL.

Oh yes, I would do another dedicated post on my shopping expeditions! Oh well, I wished that I could visit Haji Lane as I had heard and read much about the recent transformation of this old lane. Apparently, it is now the hip street to find quirky and unique finds! I must make sure I explore this place the next trip.

OK.. read more about more trip reports in the next few days.

at 2:33 PM

Ok.. I'm addicted to blogging! I'm in Singapore now and I am feeling uneasy for not having any computer and internet access.

I was here since Saturday for a short trip and would be back tomorrow. It's been nice despite the gloomy weather the last 2 days. Always nice to catch up with my family and to watch how Clayton had fun with my mum. I believe it's a little therapy for my mum too.

Ok.. I'm seriously not used to the keyboard in the cyber cafe... till then, I haven't quit blogging and would be back in full swing again tomorrow.

How is everyone doing?

at 12:30 AM

In my earlier post, I mentioned about taking a family vacation to Orlando. With all the attractive theme parks available, it can be hard to decide where to go and careful planning is essential to make the vacation a smooth one.

One thing for sure, I will not leave Orlando with visiting the Walt Disney World which is the haven of four theme parks, two water parks, plus all the fun-filled activities and adventures for everyone. And the best place to get your Disney World Tickets is to buy them online where you choose your options of 1 -10 days with "Disney Magic Your Way", depending on your budget and travel schedule. OrlandoFunTickets also offers the lowest prices for tickets to Sea World, Orlando dinner shows, Universal Studios and everything else at Disney.

Besides the savings on tickets, buying online means you don't need to waste time lining up in a queue, especially during peak seasons or school holidays. So plan your trip wisely and get the best deals at OrlandoFunTickets.

at 12:04 AM

The new technology of Voice Over IP (VoIP) is becoming popular among business people and home users. If you are already a VoIP user, you can agree that it is convenient, flexible and most inportantly, it lowers your spending on phone calls, especially international calling.

Vonage, a VoIP telephone company has a forum that contains reviews, discussions, news for VoIP users. Whether you are new to VoIP or is a current user, you can join in the forum to discuss VoIP issues with other users. The forum contains useful FAQ and detailed information of this new technology. Personally, I find the reviews section very informative as they are posted by actual users who share their experiences and honest opinions.

So if you like to save on your phone calls, check out Vonage. All you ever need is a broadband internet connection and you are ready to make calls anywhere, wherever you are.

at 11:48 PM

DH and myself have decided to recruit a couple of teleconsultants for our seminar business. How many of you know that it is not easy getting the right people who are able to share the same passion and vision with you?

Few days ago, we interviewed a lady who had an impressive CV. She had an attractive personality with pleasant looks, very fluent in her English, presentable, well travelled, loads of marketing experience and fairly poised. We had a great chat with her and even invited her to attend our workshop the next day, which was also our 'indication' of employment.

On our way home, DH and myself were filled with gladness and high hopes that this was the right candidate for our business. She seemed to fit well into our business model of working hard for 9 months and taking a long break of 3 months.

The next day, we were expecting her to show up for the workshop and she didn't turned up. My gut feel told me this would happen and I told DH that this was a sign for us that she wasn't the right one. How did she expect her future employers (us!) to trust her when she couldn't even live to her word and maintain her integrity.

Funny thing was she called on the second day of the workshop and told DH that she got the dates wrong and asked if she could still come. Well, she insulted our intelligence by hoping that she could get away with this lame excuse.

That was our first interviewee.

at 11:40 PM

I found an Internet Marketing Blog that contains useful information relating to social networking, search engine optimization and viral marketing. Personally, I am a believer of social media as it has proven to increase the traffic to my blogs. The author of this blog spells out the 5 distinctive characteristics of social media and they are:

Participation
Openness, transparency and disclosure
Conversation
Community Driven
Facilitation (facilitating conversations that are already happening online)

If you like to learn more about increasing your traffic and page ranking of your blog, this is one place you can find some help.

at 11:00 PM

As home business owners, DH and myself make a conscious effort to save on our administrative and marketing costs. So we are constantly exploring ways to minimize our costs to reach maximum profits for our business. One of the high admin costs goes to our telecommunication bills as telesales is almost the core of our business.

Thus, we are exploring the use of small business phone systems which uses VoIP technology to help us in long term savings on our phone systems as well as telecommunication costs. A broadband internet connection is all we need for VoIP phone systems which means we won't need to invest in expensive phone systems which require constant upgrading and regular maintenance.

Besides saving on overseas calls, we can have the flexibility of working out of our home office when we are outstationed. Our part-time telesales consultants who work in our partner's office can also utilize the phone system with no added hardware to purchase.

I can agree more to the versatility, convenience and cost-effectiveness of this wonderful technology.

at 12:32 AM

Finally! Clayton has learnt how to ride his tricycle! Mama is more excited than he is. For the last few months, he's been trying to pedal on the tricycle in my mom's house but his legs are just not long enough.

On our last trip, my mom got him to pedal again, he tried and he did it!

Another milestone for my little boy :) Feeling so proud of him :)

at 11:06 PM

My husband started running his own business since 1997 and he is enjoying every bit of it. Despite being confronted with abounding challenges as an entrepreneur, he remains steadfast and courageous. And I admire him for that. He is a risk taker and has delved into a few business opportunities over the years. From running a food franchise to being a restaurant owner, he got his hands in technology business and finally, found his love in seminar business.

Recently, he was talking about the importance of protecting fixed assets of a company and how it can lead to savings on taxes and insurances. He is also a believer of acquiring the right resource for business needs. For companies with high inventory control, a fixed asset inventory software is necessary for inventory tracking. The mistake often made by small businesses is the unwillingness to invest in a reliable software to perform accurate accounting and physical inventory tracking.

Without a good fixed asset management system, errors can happen which lead to financial losses and business inefficiency. Why let the business you build with much pain, hardwork and time suffer due to a lack in good management system?

at 11:00 PM

This is one of the favourite photos taken with my Nokia 6300. It's not the most sophisticated cell phone but I find it so useful when I have to take candid shots wherever I am. I snapped this at the Pagoh pit stop on our way back from Singapore. Clayton spotted a playground and dashed straight to it with much excitement.

One of those nice candid shots... I simply love taking photos of him :) Nice or not?

at 10:40 PM

Are you familiar with cosmetic surgery terms? Honestly, I am not until recently. I have heard much about celebrities getting a botox injection to combat signs of aging, face lifts and liposuction to stay radiant and slim. Breast enlargements/enhancements are among the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed among the rich and famous. And of course, nose re-shaping which is known as rhinoplasty is not excluded.

I don't know how a nose job can do wonders to the overall facial appearance until I view some of the photos in a rhinoplasty website. How many beautiful celebrities have big or flat noses? Obviously, many have done a nose reshaping to improve their physical looks. And I must say the 'before and 'after' photos in the website are impressive.

Whatever it is, if you are thinking of correcting the shape of your nose, always consult a reliable, experienced and skillful surgeon. Sometimes it may require you to pay more but you wouldn't want a crooked or disfigured nose, do you?

What I find it interesting is that rhinoplasty can also helped those with breathing problems due to a nose injury or birth defect. If you can, check out the famous Rodeo Drive rhinoplasty in Beverly Hills where you not only have one but two plastic surgeons with complementary skills and profiles under one roof.

at 10:35 PM

I just bought a new digital camera. After all the research and careful consideration, I finally settled for a Canon Ixus 850IS 7.1 megapixel digital camera. I have been concerned about getting a good camera which can take nice and sharp indoor and night photos.

I heard about the Fujifilm 31 fd which won raves and faves from media reviews but surprisingly, this camera is 'obsolete' in Malaysia. In Singapore, it is at a price tag of S$530 and Malaysia, RM1,300! What I don't understand is the latest 8.3 megapix 40fd is actually cheaper than the 31 fd which is only 6.1 megapix.

Thanks to the media reviews, which keeps the older version at a higher price as it is proven, tried and tested, as compared to the latest and powerful version.

After comparing the photos from the Panasonic Lumix and Canon, I chose the Canon. DH thinks it feels better in his chunky fingers though I love the sleek design of the Lumix and what more, it uses Leica lens!

But well, I'm happy with the Canon still - not complaining...

at 10:02 PM

What is your opinion on online dating? Or have you any experience in dating someone online? When online dating sites first began, members used to pay for a fee to post their profiles and photos in their personal pages. But with JustSayHi, membership is 100% free. Though I have no experience with online dating, I have known friends who subscribe to networking, mingling and dating friends from all over the world. As a matter of fact, I enjoy screening through the profiles of many individuals seeking for friendships on the site.

at 10:15 AM

I can't wait for our next family vacation. I have listed down a few 'must see' destinations in the next 3 years and another visit to the US is a big must! We are planning to spend Christmas in California with DH's cousins this year. I am just wondering if DH will consider taking a little break to Orlando. I hear so much about the attractive theme parks and fun-filled activities in an Orlando vacation.

With Disney World as the biggest attraction, I know for sure that Clayton will have a wonderful time, now that he has also learnt to appreciate and enjoy those fun rides. Most importantly, Orlando hotels are family-friendly or we may even consider a vacation home with more space for the little one.

Planning for an Orlando vacation can't be easier with guides to DisneyWorld, Universal Studios and Sea World, accommodation and car rental information in orlandovacation.com

Now I have to think about convincing my husband...

at 9:19 AM

Mention online trading and my husband will be all years and be sitted in full attention. DH began online trading 5 years ago and started acquiring his knowledge in forex and futures trading. According to him, it requires not just knowledge but 'skills' to make money from online trading. It hasn't been a smooth journey for him as most investors understand that the risks involved can be high and losses can be great if you aren't careful. It shouldn't be viewed as a 'get rich quick' way of investing.

Global Futures Exchange is an online trading site that is popular among forex and futures investors and traders. With as little as $250, investors can get started in online trading. That is a low start out compared to what it used to be, where you need to have few thousands in your online account before beginning any trading.

*Be warned: There is risk of loss trading Futures, options and forex.

at 9:12 AM

I posted Clayton's naked picture in Wordless Wednesday and received many cute and funny comments. Yea.. I have thought about blackmailing him in his teenage years with this photo. A friend suggested that a while ago, I took it as a joke and didn't expect myself to follow through!

Oh well... he's a child... how often will he allow a photo like this to be posted to the public when he grows up! So, I do it now! These are memories that pass you by unless they are captured and kept.

Do you have any funny, happy or cute photos of your children to share? Leave your URLs here and I'll pay you a visit!

at 9:00 AM

My brother in law who lives in the Bay Area for the past 15 years has been talking about investing in a property. Due to the property prices that have sky rocketed in the last few years, he is renting a condominium in an upmarket area, near to where he works in Berkeley University.

He is looking at a property investment in a few areas, possibly LA, Boston, Florida or anywhere around California. I believe he should take interest in the online portal for Boston condos where he can check out the whole list of luxury condominiums out for sale in the website.

Being the seventh largest metropolitan area in the US, Boston is quickly developing into a busy and buzzing city with top universities and world-class hospitals and a popular financial hub to its name. Whether for business, leisure or residential purposes, the property developments are emerging with luxury and modernity which draw appeal to investors.

What more, the online portal is place where property owners can market directly to potential buyers or investors. And if you are keen on vacation rentals in the area, this is also a portal for your reference.

at 8:43 AM

What a useful and fabulous service for working parents! As a working mom myself, finding reliable and quality daycare help for our toddler is essential during days where I need to conduct events and meetings. Though we have the privilege to look after Clayton as WAH parents, we know that many parents are desperate in finding good babysitters, daycare centers or preschools.

Daycare Bear connects childcare providers with parents together by providing a service for such needs. You can locate your provider by feeling in your location, child's age in Daycare Bear's comprehensive website. Check it out this great service coupled with useful information and resources available for free for all parents and providers.

at 12:14 AM

Clayton loves getting into the pail whenever he takes a bath in my mom's place. I think he loves tramping on the water in the pail. I didn't stop him. After all, he can only get away because he is a child - and he's only a child once...

at 10:00 PM

You may not know this but mold in your household can cause respiratory problems such as asthma, rhinitis, sinusitis and more chronic problems affecting your lungs and health. The truth is mold (fungi) is everywhere in our surrounding and living environs. And do you know that there are more than 100,000 species of mold.

This problem is often overlooked as you can't visibly see mold as it frequently grows in hidden places – behind wall linings, in floors or behind installations, leaky pipes or roofs. High humidity, or flooding conditions are ideal for mold growth.

One of the ways to prevent potential harm on your health is to engage a professional mold company to conduct certain mold inspection and black mold testing in your house. I read about a New Jersey Mold company that uses a trained mold dog to locate and detect mold. I only wish this advanced detection can be used in this part of the world where humidity is high and flooding conditions, very uncommon.

at 11:51 PM

The telecommunications industry is in such a competition these days. Offline or online, you see cell phone deals everywhere and alot of these deals are super attractive and super irresistible!

I remember paying a hefty sum for cell phones in the past and sadly, I still do now. The cell phone deals in Malaysia is pathetic and there is no such thing as getting a free cell phone when you sign up for package. It's not like Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan or USA where FREE cell phone deals are not only common but attractive and are crowd pullers.

Just look at Wirefly cell phones, the FREE cell phone deals will sure to 'wow' you. They are giving away a free Blackberry Pearl when you sign up for a new T-Mobile account. And in case you are not aware, this cool phone is worth $450! I have been eyeing on it after reading about the great features. The fact that I can organize my emails on the go is the main attraction. And who wouldn't want a super slim phone which only weight 3.2ounces!

And if you are a fan of Motorola cell phones, this Motorola RAZR V3m Charcoal is yours when you sign up for a new Verizon wireless account. Besides all the usual Razr features, the Razr V3m comes with a new VCAST Music player and expandable memory card slot. According to reviews, the Razr V3m is one of the best Razr with all the digital camera, camcorder and advance voice dialing features.

One other top selling cell phones which comes free with a new account signup is the Sony Ericsson W300i Walkman. Tied up with a new Cingular wireless account, this sleek cell phone is ideal is you are a music lover as it is powered with a Megabass speakerphone. You can count on the long battery life and other powerful features like the Bluetooth, 4x digital zoom digital camera, FM stereo and all the messaging features.

So who says free cell phones are cheap, unattractive and low quality? It's time to check out more free and cool cell phones at Wirefly.

at 5:09 PM

I just got back from a weekend trip to Singapore. It is one of those tiring and 'rush' ones but my objective was met, that was to attend my grandma's funeral.

Well, the thing about having a big family is everyone comes together when there is an occasion, whether it's a happy or sad occasion. You meet aunties, uncles, cousins that you haven't met for years, some of them I haven't even met for a decade.

So it's a big reunion for the family. I only wish I can see my late grandma off but I couldn't. I know for sure that she'll remain close to our hearts even though she's gone now. She'll be remembered for her open-heartedness,kindness and caring ways by all of us.

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