dilemma

It is one of those days when I don't feel like writing. Things are not too well on the personal end. I'm in a bad mood. My mind is in a mess. I'm in a dilemma. I'm confused and lost.

Has anyone felt this way before? How do you deal with such thought? You run? You hide? You talk about it? You pray? Or you sleep it away?

I'm not one of those who believe that you should sleep over your problem though I do feel better the next morning on black days. But the truth is you still need to face your problem squarely and openly.

Please don't ask me anything more... it's just one of those moments when no words should ever be said...

A One-Stop Network

Over the last few months, I have come across many drug rehab stories, programs, treatments and centers. But this is the first time I have been led to a one-stop resource for all Drug Rehabilitation concerns. A resource center not only on treatment centers, addiction programs and treatment methods, but also on medical professionals including therapists, counselors, nurses and attorneys. Along with the information, the network provides an unbiased but honest assessment of the various drug rehab programs and listed services.

The noble objective of this network seeks to aid those who are looking for help and care in their desperate situation. I am impressed with the related articles and news addiction programs, drug treatments, alcohol treatments and much more.

The network stands out with two added features for those conducting research in this area as it is linked to selected medical journal and government websites. Also, it is linked to many 12-Step sites which helps to motivate and support those undergoing a recovery program in finding long term care and help.

Growing up

I told Clayton a while ago that he would be in Words childminding center while we go for our lunch appointment and to my surprise, he said, 'don't want'. I looked at him and thought he might not know exactly what he was talking about. So I asked a few more times and he gave me the same answer.

So I tested him and asked, 'do you want to go to Auntie Tracy's house?' His eyes lit up and he said 'yes'. Suddenly, I realized that my 2.5 yo was able to make simple decisions and choose his preferences.

He is growing up. So I called Tracy and she graciously agreed. Thank God for friends like her and David...

We used to run a restaurant

Few years ago, our dh came back beaming with excitement to tell me that he had just decided to set up a restaurant at a popular landmark in town. I was astounded, loss in words as I wasn't expecting this news.

He was going through some years of challenges of running a bakery franchise then so was looking for another business to turn things around. At that time, I had doubts about this move as we were financially tight, after being married for only a year, and completing our new home. By it was too late to say more as the contract had been signed.

The restaurant was set up within 3 months and as expected, things didn't go as planned. Along the way, the rental was killing our business and after September 11, it went downhill, with a whole lot of employee problems etc. During that time, he was desperate and resorted to applying for an overdraft from a bank. We had bills to pay and salaries to settle every month and the sales weren't enough to cover.

I was worried about the business, paying the loans and naturally it added much strain to our marriage. Looking back, I am so glad this episode of our lives is over and am thankful each day to be freed from those financial, mental and physical burdens of running a restaurant.

If you need some good reads of loans such as difference between a loan and overdraft or what is a mortgage, check out the links above.

don't you like this wire vase?

I used to collect vases, particularly those that are unique, rare, simple, elegant, clean lines, modern and creative. I saw in this made in design store and it attracted me right away.

Check out this cool wire flower vase. The manufacturing process both preserves the artistic, handmade, almost sketch-like flavour of the concept. The visual space and form presents a sense of lightness and modernism. This Wire flower Vase is in Anodized Aluminium and the recipient is in Thermoplastic resin. Nice huh!

Removing tea stains from fabrics

Samm asks me how she can remove tea stain from her hubby's favourite white shirt. She has washed twice and the stain is evident on the shirt. I did a search and found these useful tips on removing tea stains with vinegar... try it and tell me if it works, k?

Apply clear bleach free liquid detergent on the stained area and rub in with your fingers. Use a scrub brush if needed.

Hand wash in the hottest water possible for the type of fabric that you are washing and let air-dry.

If you find that you still have a stain remaining from the tea, use a half-cup of vinegar and a cup of hot water, pour this over the stain and let it sit for about half an hour.

Rinse with hot water and let air dry.

If you find that the tough tea stain still remains in the fabric, use bleach or color safe bleach if the fabric instructions allow you and soak the material and then rinse with hot water and air dry. Repeat as needed to lighten the stain before drying in the dyer.

give your eyes a LIFT!

This is for the interest of ALL WOMEN readers.

Want eyes that appear 10 years younger? Give yourself a 'lift' with high brow...a brow lifting and defining pencil. Tried and tested by many women including celebrities and models, this matte linen-pink cream works on all complexions beautifully and makes eyes and brows look younger and sexier...and isn't that what we're all after? *wink*

Tips and tricks: Draw a light, thin line in one sweep directly under your brow. Lightly blend...don't over blend, we want the linen-pink to linger!

Help in finding your perfect car

Ever faced the problem of finding the right car to suit your budget, needs, lifestyle and preference? If the answer is YES, then you will be excited to check this new site out.

Autotropolis is a fully interactive site helps you find the car of your choice. Selections include family vehicle, value buyer, performance driver, safety, long distance use, style, second car... etc. All you need to do is check the boxes of what fits you and the Vehicle Selector Aid will choose the right car for you!

The site also has a Dealership Locator where you can find new car dealers by entering your zip code. It saves you time and trouble from searching in directories and most of the time, you may not even know where to begin your search.

Ok.. I'm going to try out this cool tool... it looks fun searching for my ideal car in this manner. It is truly a useful tool for anyone who is looking for a new car.

Buy all-inclusive homes

I love visting display homes. Love those nice layouts, comfy settees, stainless steel kitchen tops, granite finish island, walk-in wardrobes, sleek designer appliances, built-in ovens, lovely finishes, freshly-painted walls... I can almost end up in fantasy in a display home!

The problem with most builders is that the price of the property does not include all the extras such as bathroom, cooktops, built-in cabinets etc. I often wish that builders will display the 'all inclusive' price in the homes, instead of putting a low price and then offer a higher price when all the extras are included.


Well, there is one Australian home builder who believes in the WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) concept, which spells honesty and openness in conducting business. Adding to that, buyers choose Resident Home Builders for the professional service rendered and quality homes at affordable prices. Read for yourself:

Press Release:

What You See Is What You Get


Wouldn’t it be great if things in life were more as they first seemed? The hotel pictures advertised online, the top models in magazines, the diet shake ads. No tricks, no gimmicks, no false advertising. That’s how Resident Home Builders thinks life should be: WYSIWYG.

Resident Home Builders works by an “as displayed price” philosophy. This ensures that all the features people love about Resident homes are included: from stainless steel ovens and cooktops, lofty windows, to high ceilings and big spacious bathrooms. All of which are constructed with contemporary urban finishes and materials.

Resident’s team of professionals include experienced architects, interior designers, construction managers, quality assurance specialists and project managers. All of who work to make sure you get the most out of your new home, with all the extras included.

In short, Resident truly offers quality homes at affordable prices, refreshing isn’t it?

For further information visit www.residenthomebuilders.com.

I love e-shopping!

See, I don't own a shopping blog for nothing. I can't be buying ALL the things I adore, like and yearn for cos I can't afford them! So being able to e-shop helps to satisfy my shopping cravings... which means I don't have to buy all the things I see online - it feels good just to search and find them.

I found this pair of red dolphin earrings today at LuLu's Fashion Lounge, she's got one of the coolest fashion. Love those dresses, shoes and tops! I have spent the past hour browsing through the dresses and other collection.

What do you enjoy doing?

Print your own CD and DVD

I have no idea how CDs and DVDs are printed until I come across this website that specializes on CD/DVD Printer, CD/DVD Publisher and CD/DVD Duplicator. With the XInt Idea Nexis 100AP Printer, 50 discs can be printed easily with a simple operation. This is great for churches, schools, internet marketers and training companies. with this compact desktop printer, you can save on supplier mark ups and waiting time. Moreover, the inkjet cartridges are easily available.

2nd day of school holidays

It's the 2nd day of school holidays and am I thankful Clayton is asleep now... I have been occupying him almost all day with is cards, cars and tidying up the mess he created. I wish I can get more done with him playing by himself in his playroom but... no chance, he would insist that I sit down with him, even if it's just lying down and do nothing.

I thought children who attended Montessori classes were supposed to learn independence and know how to play by themselves. What happened?

Bollywood or Hollywood?

Interestingly, I seem to have more friends who are fans of Bollywood than Hollywood. It sounds funny but it is true. And in case you think Indian Videos are favoured only by Indians, you are wrong!

My friend, Dexter loves Bollywood and actually, my husband loves watching Indian dance. I must definitely point Dexter to this niche youtube style of Indian video site. The videos in the collection include bollywood, music video, people, places and more. Like youtube, you can capture your own video, upload it and share it with family and friends. Actually, you may stand a chance to win a FREE iPod if your uploaded video becomes the most popular among the viewers.

You can embed it into your blog, post a link or choose your favourites. I took a quick look on the comedy videos and this one called Babby Drummer stood and it was cute!

SOHO

A visit to a new restaurant that opens up... SOHO serves Chinese-Shanghainese culinary delights with a twist of modernity mixed with tradition. Dim Sum is good and the dishes are delectable, a nice gathering place for family and friends. I was enticed by the decor, interiors, concept, the theme, the setting, the upholstery on the chairs, the menu... the food!

Hide me now

A song from Hillsongs came to me from my good friend Tracy during my time of distress:

Hide me now, under your wings
Cover me within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul in Christ alone
Know his power in quietness and trust

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Thanks, Tracy... appreciate it. This is actually one of my favourites.

The Police is here

There is something to win for USA Bloggers! Remember the song "Roxanne"? Anyway, there was my favourite when I was a teenager. Oh yes, the band who sang this song was The Police, a 3 piece rock band who became popular during the rock and punk music era.

With a reunion of the band this year, The Police will be going on a worldwide tour! I know someone who will be thrilled and excited to know about this, that is my close girl friend who uesd to go head over heels over the lead singer in the band, Sting.

There is only one reason why I want the police cd, that is for her cos she is a true fan who listened to their music everytime she went on board overseas, in her companion The Sony Walkman.

*this is not a sponsored post simply because I'm not a US blogger:)

First day of school holiday

Today is Clayton's first day of a 2-week long holiday. When we found out about this last week, we were thinking hard on what to do with him. We figured that we would be stressed about having him at home FULL day for 2 weeks!

The first day is over and he's fast asleep. I am glad the first day turns out alright... he was a little restless but it was still within limits. One day down and 13 more days to go... so glad that my good friend, Tracy, has volunteered to take him for a day. He is looking forward to see Auntie Tracy and Uncle David... and Max, the Golden Retriever!

my Platinum card

I got a call from my credit card company, Citibank, the other day informing me that I had been granted a Platinum card. This news came as a pleasant surprise and of course, the first thing I asked her was, "How much was the annual card fees?" I had been told that Platinum card subscription rates weren't cheap.

To my surprise, she told me that my card fees remained the same as my current Classic - and did I say YES to the offer? You bet! Having a Platinum card means a credit limit increase and most importantly, better privileges and perks. The only person who wasn't excited was my dh (*wink*) cos he was afraid that I would go wild with my spending!

But like I always say, it is important to spend within your limits and buy only things you can afford. That is the reason why I haven't accepted any 12-months 0% interest payment schemes. I prefer to only save up to buy something or not buy at all. These days, it is so easy to end up in credit card debts.

If you like to read some informative articles relating to credit cards, here is one that talks about choosing the right card and the other is on the types of cards available in the marketplace.

Overweight solutions

There are many ways to deal with overweight problems. One of the best tonic is exercise. Say 'No' to the second helping of food. Eat plenty of greens and liquid foods. Stay away from fatty and starchy foods. Some people resort to using appetite suppressants while others embark on a detox diet.

Taking rye, millet, rice and yellow cornmeal are four reducing whole cereal grains that can help you meet your need for carbohydrates but will not add weight. Wheat puts on fat and rye, on muscle.

Shadowscope - a veteran blogger

I am reviewing this for Shadowscope, a veteran blogger since January 1999 (wow!) and a PPP postie too. I like to be honest here and this is just my personal opinion. I'm never a big fan of coloured text on dark background as it can be blinding visually if the text is too long. It does make the eyes tired after a while. As a designer, I will use light coloured text on dark background for short text or only if the typeface is larger in size. And somehow, sites with dark backgrounds tend to take a longer time to appear.

But I must say I like the author's hairstyle cos it resembles that of my husband :) This is a blog where the author shares about his family, friends, events, news around the web and some paid reviews. Being a long time blogger, you can learn much from the affiliated badges on the sidebar of the blog. I will be checking some of them out and perhaps link to some community sites and directories recommended. There is definitely lots to learn from someone who has been blogging for 8 years!!

Clayton's progress

I'm not a Kiasu parent so when Clayton's kindy has a parent-teacher conference session, I didn't show up :)

So I received a few books from his class, plus his report card and I roared in laughter when I read the bold sentence in italics:

"Clayton is a cute boy and is well liked by everyone. He enjoys working with apparatus. He keeps himself busy by revising his phonics, numbers, colours and shapes daily. He does not like artwork as he is afraid of getting his hands messy. I noticed that he likes to walk around the class and mingles with his friends. Currently, Clayton's attention span is very short but with much guidance and encouragement, he should be better in the next semester."

cool laptop sleeves and purses

It's hard not to fall in love with the creative works and designs of Janine King who sells her stuff in Etsy. I'm tempted to grab one of her laptop sleeves for my MacBook, which is a big contrast in terms of attractiveness when compared to my boring black padded sleeve. But with so many designs to choose from, it is hard to make a decision cos there are so many nice ones! The padded purses are great for my digital camera, network cables and travelling documents...



Oh dear... I'm shopping again!

Deal with the negatives

This is a busy day of lunches and dinners with close friends. Dexter had just returned from his honeymoon and we took the time to catch up in a chinese-hakka restaurant. Eliza was back on wednesday from Bangkok and both Tracy and David were back from South Africa yesterday. It was nice to catch up with everyone again...

I had a chat with Tracy on msn the other day and we were talking about will and guardianship. I don't usually like to think about Death insurance but honestly, if anything were to happen to Alex and myself, I would like a good guardian to take care of Clayton, and I just realized we didn't list that in our wills.

I know some people don't like to think of negatives like these things but it is good to be realistic about life - that it is unpredictable and we should not assume that things are always fine and dandy. If you are a parent, have you thought about who will be guardian of your child should anything happen to you?

Tuck in your tummy

All women love a flat tummy. And don't be surprised to know that men too. A flat tummy means more dressing options for us women - some of us feel funny or uncomfortable with a a tummy protruding when we wear a body hugging dress, top, low waist pants or skirt. Having a flat tummy means moving around in confidence in our swim wear too.

Tummy tuck, also known as Abdominoplasty is a popular surgery that helps to remove excess fats from the abdomen areas and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. Though this procedure has helped many to get rid of a protruding abdomen, it may leave behind a permanent scar. It is necessary to understand the entire procedure by consulting a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon before deciding on the surgery, says Los Angeles tummy tuck surgeon, Dr Lloyd Krieger. As with any plastic surgery, not all candidates may be suitable, it requires an evaluation of the candidate's physical and health condition. Ladies who are considering pregnancy should avoid the surgery as the tightened vertical muscles in the abdomen during surgery can be detached during pregnancy.

All plastic surgeries carry a certain level of risks and complications, thus, it is important to follow the surgeon's instructions before and after surgery. If you like to find out more, the website of Rodeo Drive's only plastic surgery center has all the necessary information you need on tummy tuck. Find out more about California tummy tuck at Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery Center.

Are you motivated?

Everyone of us needs a reminder from time to time and to be more specific, we all need to be motivated. We may be overwhelmed by stresses of life, worries, life pressures, work challenges and all these can get us down and hinder our pursuit in life.

Let's drift back a little - what are you goals for 2007? Have you forgotten them? What have you done to achieve them? Would you like a FREE software to help you achieve those set goals in the next 6 months before the year comes to a close? If your answer is a keen YES, then download your FREE copy of motivation software which has won positive reviews from real life users. The software allows you to program personal messages to remind you of your goals and dreams.

Ready to go? Download your FREE copy now.

Shopping for Clayton's new room again

My husband has been bugging me to train Clayton to sleep in his own room. My argument is that he doesn't even have his own bed so I'm thinking if he should get him one. Now that he has his own play room, he may be opened to the idea of sleeping by in his own room?

Well, this means we must start looking into some home furniture again, and I'm also thinking about a bean bag for our living room. I enjoy shopping for furniture, only if the old ones be rid off and place somewhere or else the house will become cluttered, which is a big no-no.


It's Sunday tomorrow so we may do some shopping for the house and Clayton's new bed.

It's Saturday - yay!

It's Saturday again... though I work from home, I still like weekends! I only wish Clayton sleeps longer and not wake up at 8plus am.

My mind switched off automatically on weekends. I feel more relaxed and less anxious, it is more psychological than anything. I tend to remind myself that it's weekends and Clayton deserves more time and attention from me.

We had lunch at a new restaurant at One U called SOHO. They appeared in the press some weeks back so it called for a review from us too. The interiors was an immediate attraction for anyone passing by SOHO... minimalist, clean, spacious, white furniture with black accents, black and white graphics, friendly hosts, high ceilings... nice!

SOHO is a Shanghainese Tim Sum restaurant that serves up authentic Shanghainese dishes with a modern twist. The interiors was nicely conceptualized, along with everything else like the menu, cutlery and chairs. Every other chair has a silhoutte of a graphic stylized portrait, very much like the cover of the menu.

I chose a seat by the clear glass windows that looked out to the recreational area of the mall. Reports on the food in another post... I'm getting sleepy.. *yawn*

Fresh from Florida

Tell me about Florida and the first thing that sprung into my mind would be Florida Orange Juice! Known for its growing agricultural industry and freshness in produce and the gourmet, raking in 87 billion for the state, something new is happening in this sunny place. Florida is making a big buzz in the coming racing fun in REV IT UP! Enjoy the video!

I like a luxury vacation in Hawaii

We are going to Hawaii this December.. Yay! I can't wait to revisit this tropical island after 10 over years. This time around, I am definitely booking an apartment or vacation home, depending on my research, budget and liking.

Since becoming parents 3 years ago, we have preferred not to stay in a hotel as we prefer more space and a home-away-from-home feel. Besides, I like the flexibility of cooking our own meals as it can get quite boring after eating out for few weeks. Staying in a vacation home or apartment means more space to move around, a living area to relax and wind down and it usually a better value for money.



I would definitely like a Hawaii luxury vacation where I could wake up to spot sunrise or sipping margaritas by the patio. Villas for great for bigger groups but for a small family of three, a self-contained resort or a fully-equipped condo would be ideal. I spotted the Kona Village Resort and was captured by the dramatic sunsets and enchanting beauty but it came with a price tag of $1,000 a night. Most of the luxury options featured in Hawaiian Beach Rentals are the best I have ever seen, how about the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel?



Let me captivate you with the tropical beauty of Hawaii with these awesome photos...

More website traffic?

Like more website traffic? I can hear everyone shouting "YES"! Well, here's a website optimization firm that helps small businesses to increase website presence and search engine rankings via updated techniques away from the traditional SEO style. Blog marketing is the hot topic these days and that's what Think Big Sites does. Like to know more, head down to thinkbigsites.com

Kimberly Sayer Restore Organic Anti Aging Cream

Wow... organic anti aging cream... this is cool! As a big fan of organic products, I will be excited to give it a try. Most anti aging creams in on the shelves contain strong chemicals to keep the skin supple and smooth so when I see the word 'organic', I know it is safe from these harmful chemicals.

I just came to know about Kimberly Sayer's skincare products and this product helps to tighten skin and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, stimulate collagen production and protect your skin against any environmental damage. It also enhances the skin to hold moisture. It combats the effects of aging and promotes the youthful look in your skin.

Suitable for all skin types and esp dry and mature skins.

Check out the other Organic Beauty Products at

Brit women shopping big time

I just read an interesting article on the shopping habits of British women and was shocked by some facts. According to the article, half a million of British women had secretly put their shopping bills on their partners' credit cards and about 2 in 5 lied about their shopping habits... oh no!

Umm, I felt a bit guilty after reading this, not that I'm one of those who need a shopping fix every week but I prefer to keep my shopping spending to myself, especially my credit card bills. With the easy payment of credit cards and the ease of buying online, it is not difficult to end up in credit card debts if you are not careful. Moreover, credit card companies are always extending promotions and rewards that can be tempting, thus increasing your spending, not to mention that 0% Credit Cards are common these days.

If you are a big user of credit cards, it is important to know about how to keep yourself safe from credit card fraud. With online buying on the rise, it is better to take precautions and ensure that your password is kept personal at all times. Always keep a copy of the receipt of your purchase for verifications purposes.

clayton sings in chinese

This is Clayton's favourite chinese song. It's almost complete except for a few missing words. It is our desire to expose him to Mandarin and truly glad that he is enjoying Baobei everyday. The teachers adore him and that helps! The song is 'Ke Ren Lai' which means 'the guest is here'...

clayton's fish song

One of the perks of parenting a 31 months toddler is when he starts to hum a tune he learns from school. I cannot explain how it feels but it is nice to hear him sing a song, though it may not sound complete. The smiles on his face says it all... I caught him on video...

the little fish swim in the water....

What does car number plates mean to you?

I know some of my friends would spend money to buy their desired car number plates. Among the Chinese, the number '8' spells prosperity and good fortune. It is common for luxury cars to come with 'lucky' numbers such as '88', '888', '2888'.. etc, well, and these 'prosperity' numbers come with a big price tag too. This is a popular tradition among the Chinese businessman. And many would stay away from the number '4' which means 'dead' in Cantonese dialect.

Now, if you need to search private number plates of your choice, Northumbria Numbers is the leader in selling all sorts of car number plates including those old ones, cherished ones and hard-to-find ones. You can do a quick search in the website by names, car types, car registrations and prefix type registration numbers. Besides providing the platform for search and sale of private car plates, you can leave all the paperwork to the company. It is practically hassle-free!

The website also allows you to make your own private number plate - prefix or current style - at the convenience of your home.

Good bye, Uncle Seng

They are both 'bald'.. oops, it's in the genes!



My brother in law's vacation in Kuala Lumpur ended 3 days ago. I believe this must be one of the fruitful vacations for me - diving in Sipadan for one entire week. Can you see the tan on his face?

Clayton had a great time getting to know Uncle Seng. He would wait outside his door in the morning as Seng slept is his playroom. He couldn't wait to play with Uncle Seng. He could say very clearly that Uncles Seng had gone back to America and we assured him that he would see uncle Seng this Christmas.

He hadn't stopped saying he liked airport since we got back from sending Seng off... here were some shots to share with you...

Not your typical website optimization firm

The subject on website traffic continues to spark interest amongst business owners who are concerned about creating more buzz on their products and services. Whether it is an offline or online product/service, more website traffic means more awareness, an increased in being found in search engines and ultimately, more leads/sales for the business.

The idea of tapping on the web2.0 technology is not new with different website marketing companies focusing on diverse strategies. But all are working towards the common goals of helping clients increase page rankings, develop a stronger branding, achieve SEO results and creating successful campaigns in the web.

A website optimization firm like Think Big Sites was form to help small businesses to achieve more presence in the web via a complete blend of marketing strategies (offline and online) involving blog marketing, email campaigns, ppc, well designed websites, seo and inbound linking. I am impressed with the seo results page which presents a snapshots of companies who attain successful results with the strategies implemented by TBS including some who have achieved Google Top Ten rankings. Those of us who know a little about seo can appreciate how important this means.

The team in TBS provides expertise not only in website optimization but also in graphic design, web development, programming and consulting.

Stick to your ethics

I was reading an article in the local newspapers yesterday on how the authorities had decided to clamp down the illegal and unethical money lenders. The reality for many people is that they do need some kind of loan at some point in their lives, whether for emergency usage for for personal matters. It may be buying a house, education, wedding, hospitalization, medical or just plain financial debts.

Though it seems new to me, taking a loan from a bank that is based on strong ethical values and business practices sounds logical, acceptable and responsible. It means that the company does not engage in activities that is conflicting with human rights, environmental issues and other ethical matters. Customers are required to fill in questionaire forms to declare how the loan would be used for, as well as a business profile evaluation before an approval is granted.

Overeating

How do people become overweight? Primarily, it is caused by overeating. Weight-loss diets are not acceptable as a counterbalance to overeating, I mean, it doesn't work to overeat a few months, then diet a few months, then overeat some more - because your weight will slowly creep upward. Try lifestyle changes. Program more activity and exercise and less sitting into your lifestyle. Don't rise up from dinner, turn on to body fat. Get creative and come up with enjoyable physical activity. Whatever happened to dancing?

affliate marketer made $2500 in 2 weeks

Well, if you have heard about affiliate marketing and have some knowledge about it, then you will not think that what I'm about to tell you is baloney.

This blog post jumps straight at me:AdensBlog.com - Made 2500 In 2 Weeks! Wow.. sounds crazy? Any affiliate marketer knows this is possible but only if you know the traits to it. The author spends a year learning about affiliate marketing before earning his $2500 paycheck so if you are new in internet marketing, just keep in mind that this is not rocket science. It does require time, efforts and dedication. My dear husband has been spending the last six months learning more about affiliate marketing and he can tell you it is not ABC.

But on the positive note, Aden has done it, so can you:)

When is blogging a waste of time?

I read an interesting blog post today on 'When is blogging a waste of time'? And it gets me thinking. To me, blogging is a waste of time when:

the server is slow
I have to think too hard on what to write
I have other priorities
I have to fix bugs on the computer
I am unfamiliar with HTML and scripts
I talk crap

Uhh.. what about you? When is blogging a waste of time for you?

UK hotel booking site

I wish I know about this hotel booking site earlier before my good friend, Dexter left for his honeymoon. Then again, I will save this for my future reference when I travel to the UK.

Here's another travel resource site that provides Hotel Accommodation in the UK. It is a fairly user-friendly site with lots of useful information for anyone planning on a vacation to the UK. They specialize in providing last minute short breaks, bargain hunts, last minute hotel accommodations, luxury getaways and more. I was doing a quick browse and this luxurious bed and breakfast in England's historic heartland, Coombe Abbey Hotel is awesome. I love the architecture and the picturesque setting of the hotel.



So if you are thinking about a visit to the UK, bookmark this site for your guide.

Highlight of our Singapore trip

One of the highlights in our recent Singapore trip was the open water park at Vivo City. You cannot believe the excitement in Clayton's eyes when we told him that we were going there. He waited with great anticipation. He was already at an age where he understood where we were taking him and what we said.

We promised him we would take him there and we delivered. The smiles on his face on that day were so rewarding... I felt so blessed to have an active boy who loved nature and the simple things of life...

Get a motor insurance

If you are a driver, you know how important it is to have a motor insurance. Having one can save you money, trouble, time and hassle!

Now, you can apply and buy a motor insurance online with CIS. The selling points of the company: it is efficient, provides good customer support from geting a quote to starting a claim, affordable, easy and hassle-free! With two perks attached to the product, there is the No Claim discount and Introductory discount and another extra 10% discount if you buy online.

Some key benefits include a free 24-hour Emergency Helpline in the event of a breakdown, free legal advice helpline and a courtesy car, to name a few. Besides, getting a quote is just a click away, that's how convenient it is.

I love MRT

,



We did something crazy during our recent Singapore trip. On the last day before we headed home, DH intentionally dropped Clayton and myself at Toa Payoh MRT station so that we could fulfill Clayton's wish to 'take a train'.



He had been echoing this desire since my last trip with him in April. Since, he would tell me (everyday) - "Clayton likes MRT"; "Clayton likes train". So I kept assuring him that I would take him and he didn't forget.

Well, I don't know the depths of my love for my boy til I experience little things like this. I don't want to disappoint him. I just want to put a smile on his face and small things like taking a train delights him so much.

There is so much we can learn from a child...



Waiting for the train door to open.. in anticipation!

Smile :)

What a name - Smile credit card... obviously, you smile with it as you read it. And know what, this credit card is no ordinary one, it is an award winning credit card. For four years, it has been voted for the "best credit card" at the Guardian Consumer Finance Awards 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. With two cards for selections: the classic card with 5% cashback on every cent you spent or the gold card which offers perks such as 46 days interest free if full payment is made and low rates.

You ought to check out Smile's credit cards website. It's quite different for a financial website, especially the 'why smile?' page where cute icons are used with catchy phrases such as 'happy wallet' and 'happy heart'.

Facts on breast augmentation

More women are choosing to nurse their children as they come to understand the benefits and superiority of mother's milk. But I would like to honest about this reality of how nursing can also alter the physical appearance of the women's body. It is common that some women may experience a difference in breast's size and the loss of volume after pregnancy and nursing. As such, some have sought to correct this through breast augmentation in Los Angeles or elsewhere.

It must be understood that all surgeries carry a certain level of risks, as quoted by a Los Angeles breast augmentation website. Some may encounter a capsular contracture, a common problem which refers to the scar around the implant tighens up. If there is any excessive bleeding, an operation may be needed to stop this. And if an infection occurs at any time after the surgery, the implants may need to remove for a while before a new implant is inserted again.

More details on this subject can be found at the website of Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery who also performs Beverly Hills liposuction, face lift, botox, rhinoplasty and a host of other beauty and cosmetic treatments in the district of the rich and famous.

deep breathing

I have been practising these deep breathing exercises in the last 3 months since dh came back from his Qi Gong workshops. Though I can't point out how the breathing exercises have been benefiting my health, I know for sure that there has been an increased alertness and energy after each session. It seems to 'wake me up' from that lethargy and tiredness.

The truth is few of us breathe deeply enough. Deep breathing helps to oxygenate our blood and drive oxygen into our bloodstream... have you breathed deep today?

Drug Rehab program at Stone Hawk

Nothing in life can touch someone more than compassion. So when someone is going struggling to overcome a drug addiction problem or other challenges such as alcoholism, what the patient needs is a counsellor or trained person who not only can understand the struggle, but somone who has 'been there, done that'.

At this Stone Hawk, the Narconon program is a tried and tested drug rehab treatment program that has brought about a success rate of more than 70% and what is important is graduates left and stay clean. The program focuses on the total wellbeing of the patient, without the use of drugs. A careful medical check up is necessary before going through the program. The drug addiction treatment involves a body detox, cleaning the body, following a healthy and wholesome diet, and including regular fitness to strengthen the mental and physical aspects of the student. I believe a 'drug free' approach to definitely the way to go to not only stay clean but build physical health in the long run.

Rush Hour

I'm hooked on benefits cosmetics. I spent an hour browsing through the items and the more I browsed, the more I wanted to buy! Everything seemed cool, great, gorgeous and beautiful!

How about this INSTANT makeover for lips & cheeks. It's low maintenance, oil-free & non-comedogenic makeup for the gal on the go. This sunberry color cream is just the versatile shade that goes well with any skin tone! just brush a few strokes to the cheeks, wear it on the lips - that's it... you're all ready to go! Looking great in 10 seconds with RUSH HOUR is quick, easy, convenient and hassle-free!

A definite must have for the gal on the go...

Tips and tricks: Just twist it up with the slim-line design and application is mess-free and fast! Begin at the apple of your cheeks, apply rush hour using whisker-like strokes. Blend evenly with fingertips. And for the lips, just gently dab a few dots and you are all set!

Convert DVDs to iPod movies

This iPod fever is spreading like wild fire. Well, I must definitely give credit to Steve Jobs for the success of this little gadget. Even my non-Mac user friends are buying iPods!

Now, there is another cool thing you can do to your iPod, that is, to convert DVD movies to iPod movies. All you need is an iPod Video Converter and you can convert all your fave shows in your cool iPod. You can get a free trial or otherwise, for an one-time payment of $39.95 you can convert as many DVDs and videos as you want and watch it anywhere!

I want this laptop bag!

Show me what is handmade and you get my attention!

How about this great looking Janine King padded Laptop Sleeve that allows you to carry your laptop/notebook computer safely and with style! Handmade in USA, hip trendy look yet practical and protective. Comes with sturdy detachable shoulder strap for versatile carrying options. Awesome pattern from Alexander Henry Fabrics called Abstract No 9. Colors include cherry red, teal, orange, chartreuse, pink and deepest brown. Front and back are same. Brown straps, zipper and lining.

The back of the bag is durable industrial twill in coordinating deep brown, a much heavier grade than available in fabric stores. Industrial twill is similar to canvas but with a tighter weave for better durability. It is pre-treated by the manufacturer to repel moisture and stains.

I'm a big credit card user -are you?

Have you heard of pre-approved credit cards? Lately, we were approached by a bank to co-promote one of their credit card with our upcoming seminar. I was amazed when the bank was proposing to offer our participants a pre-approved credit card, no document submissions, no credit check needed. I thought this must be a little crazy.

I'm a big credit card user. I can leave home without my wallet but not my credit card. It is convenient and for me, safer than carrying loads of cash when I'm shopping alone. If you live in M'sia, you would know what I mean. But I must often warn myself not to overspend and not to buy out of impulse. Somehow, when I shop with DH, I tend to have more restraint. Otherwise, I go wild and crazy! Moreover, I have more than one credit card, as a matter of fact, I sometimes wonder if I need more than one card. There is an article that talks about this subject.

I was reading a couple of articles and it was about how you can use credit cards to make money. If you like to read more about this topic, check out the list of articles here.

Busy day

Today is such a busy one for me. I was rushing to finish 3 advertising panels for our upcoming promotion at MPH stores. Besides a list of tasks to complete, I need to make sure Clayton gets his breakfast and lunch, fetch him to mandarin class in the morning, nursery in the afternoon... what makes it worse was that DH was away for a full day seminar. Somehow, he got bored and came back during lunch which was helpful. At least I could finish my work while he fetched Clayton to school. That was when I realized how important a man could be in the house... be the driver to our boy :)

Here's a conservative blog

Well, I think to myself that this must be an interesting blogger... cos I hardly come across a conservative blog... and what more, it's urban conservation.

Ok... I'm learning a little more about liberalism here since I never care what it really means. But seriously, if you want to know what are liberals and understand them abit more, this blog has the information you need. I can tell that the author is outspoken and opinionated. I enjoy reading some stuff here... I'll be back!

benefits cosmetics - body so fine

my friend, denise, got me addicted to this new line of cosmetics from San Francisco. what I really like about benefits is the packaging, the creative product names and the unique cosmetic range. for example, this body balm is one of denise's favourites and it is bound to seduce! Rub some on to arms, legs, decollete, anywhere you like. the name of the product is simply called 'body so fine'.... and accordingly to the website, 'the fragrance of white blossoms is like an aphrodisiac!'

don't you just love the packaging?

Understanding ADHD and ADD

I have been reading about some children health matters and one area of concern has always been ADHD (stands for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), a medical condition faced by many children and individuals in the world. Children who are suffering from ADHD and ADD tend to be hyperactive, have difficulties focusing and may face social problems. Parents who are not well informed of this disorder may undergo frustrations in coping with odd behaviours of a child suffering from this condition. It is good to know that a dedicated center like ADD Health and Wellness Centers is set up to provide information and education to parents and individuals with these concerns. And now you can make a FREE appointment for ADD/ADHD Evaluation in you live in the great Boston area.

JustLife Organic Shop

I am an organic food advocate and have been rather blessed to have access to many organic shops around my area. One of my favourite is JustLife which often captivate me with their freestyle graphics, creative food labels and marketing concept. Most importantly, I like to buy fresh vegetables and fruits from the shops as they are carefully selected and freshness is guaranteed.

JustLife has recently opened its flagship store in Ikano Power Centre, Kuala Lumpur with a sit down cafe serving organic food. There is a wider selection of fruits and vegetables in the long storage place which resembles very much like the ones you see in supermarkets. I am very impressed by their interiors and decor, which is nicely designed - kudos to the design team at JustLife. The root vegetables are placed in wooden baskets like the ones in the market... a nice touch to getting close to nature.

I just realized that I erased the photos of the shop - argrhh.. ok, I'm heading to the shop to retake some photos and will post them later.

Seng is getting a new home

During one of our dinners with Seng, we were discussing about buying and investing new homes and properties. Seng has lived in San Francisco in the last 20 years and is considering buying a place of his own. According to him, the property prices in SF have not stopped rising in the last few years. That makes it challenging to afford a place. When buying an existing home, you also need to budget for renovation and remodelling costs, which can be a hefty sum, depending on material costs, design and architectural changes.

So one way to afford is to consider construction loans as they help to provide enough for the purchase of the property as well as the construction costs. Seng had found some useful remodeling loan information on the internet which explained clearly on how he could include all repair, renovation and expansion expenses in the remodelling construction loan program which included fixing a new roof, designing a new kitchen or bathroom, changing existing flooring etc. The website also provided comprehensive construction loan information for new home owners like himself.

Well, I do hope that by the time we visit Seng in SF, he is already a proud home owner. I can sense that Clayton is already missing Uncle Seng... we are looking forward to see him this Christmas in LA.

Prepaid calling card useful for travelling

When I travel overseas, I usually carry a prepaid calling card as it is cheaper to call using a prepaid phone card than from my mobile phone or fixed line. And with prepaid phone cards, the flexibility allows you to use it wherever you are and the savings can be significant. Recalling from our last Australia vacation, I was using a prepaid phone call to book for my accommodations as calling via auto roam service can be costly.

Now, here is the real promotion at Pingo, the prepaid calling card provider. Just sign up for a minimum of $20 credit now and you receive $5 FREE international calling card calls PLUS $25 online store gift certificate. This certificate can be used with all participating online merchants including Mrs Fields, International Wine Cellars and Impromptu Gourmet.

Pingo is also known for its lowest international calling rates which is extremely great if you need to call overseas or if you are travelling. It is easy to use and you can add more credit value to your International rechargeable phone card at your convenience, anytime, anywhere.

Top 10 sizzling hotels

Summer is knocking its doors so you may find this information timely. Here are the Top 10: sizzling hot hotels that sizzle by day, cool by night. These luxury hotels are the perfect ways to end your days on a beach vacation. Check them out!

1. South Beach: Hotel Impala
2. Maui: Kaanapali Alii
3. Kauai:Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa
4. Clearwater: Sea Captain Resort on the Bay
5. Hilton Head, S.C.: Marriott Barony Beach Club
6. Naples, Fla.: Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort
7. Carmel, Calif.: Highlands Inn Park Hyatt Carmel
8. Laguna Beach: Holiday Inn Laguna Beach
9. Nantucket: The Veranda House
10. South Padre Island: Radisson Resort South Padre Island

Plastic surgery gets fashionable

When a company or business is featured in Fortune magazine, it better be newsworthy. I was reading an article about how plastic surgery is no longer done in hospitals but in fashionable malls and in trendy settings. How about walking into a 1 million plastic surgery facility in hip and upmarket Beverly Hills to get a 'makeover' or a Beverly Hills breast reduction?

Just as I think that most boob jobs are for enlargement and enhancement, I learnt about the infamous Rodeo Drive Shaped for Fashion Breast Reduction. I also recalled the story of an entrepreneur who started an online store just to cater to butsy women who are average-sized.

The Rodeo Drive Shaped for Fashion Breast Reduction is specially designed for women who not only needs a breast reduction due to physical discomforts and inconveniences, but it goes a step further in focusing on the shape and position. The main purpose is to perform a surgery that will harmonize with the overall body shape so that the patient can look and feel good, and be at her best in all sorts of fashionable attire. It sounds like an uniqueLos Angeles breast reduction program.

All surgeries are performed in the deluxe facility at Rodeo Drive and patients can ensure a pleasant, professional and relaxing experience from the team at Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery. Dr Lloyd Krieger is a popular face in the media for his exceptional surgical approach in helping many women achieve their desired goals in breast reduction in beverly hills in the efforts of looking more confident and fashionably beautiful .

Paypal not responding

Lately, many bloggers in Malaysia are facing problems with PayPal. Apparently, the withdrawal feature that allows users to accept money is not active and users are requested to present an US bank account. The problem with PayPal is that the support department takes ages to respond and another frustration is that by the time they respond, your concern may not be addressed.

Sometime back, I wrote to them with an issue and they actually responded and said that due to high volume of customers' feedback, they weren't able to respond and cope with the requests. And that was it. No answer to my question, just a lame excuse that I won't be getting any answer cos they were swarmed.

For a huge payment gateway like PayPal, I do expect better customer service support than this. I do hope that they will resolve this issue soon and fix this glitch.

We need insurance, so do pets

Do you have pets? If you do, you will understand how expensive it can be when your pet is ill or unwell. Though I don't own a pet, I have heard friends complaining about the expensive bills in pet healthcare. Just like anyone of us who needs a medical insurance, buying pet insurance for your pets can save you money on veterinary treatment and costs in the long run. With pet health insurance, you don't have to worry about major surgeries and unexpected veterinary costs.

terrific TWO? terrible TWO?

I've been warned of the 'terrible two' by books, magazines, friends and parenting websites. But I have insisted not to believe in what everyone says about the 'terrible two'. I prefer to be positive in calling it the 'terrific two'.

My 2.5 yo has been manifesting all the characteristics of a toddler. He is developing a mind of his own. He tells you what he wants, what he likes, what he is afraid of; he negotiates, throws tantrums, tests his limits, pushes his boundaries... he is growing, changing and becoming.

Yes, it is exciting, frustrating, annoying, amusing, at the same time, comforting. His vocabulary is expanding so fast, faster than I can imagine or think of... he listens, he is attentive, I better watch what I am saying... you just never know what he's absorbing.

Lastly, he is officially weaned. It is a wonderful journey in the 2.5 years. I will never forget the details of this nursing journey... motherhood is just a beginning...

DH loves hot dogs

Mother's day is just passed and next would be Father's day. Well, we have never celebrated this occasion as DH tends to say that these things are too commercialized. Just when I think I can save on his Father's day gift, I saw this Home Pride Ballpark Hot Dog Rotisserie that I know will impress him a great deal! This seems like a fantastic fathers day gift idea for him cos DH loves hot dogs. He went to Uni in States so hot dogs were his favourite food in his early adult years.

Don't you think this is great for men who love soccer or footy parties?

Vote for your video

Following up from my earlier post on the contest happening at GoFish.com, I was checking up on some of the videos submitted and they were simply hilarious! Denton Rose 101 Intro to
a stud muffin showed Denton (who claimed to have dated Britney) teaching they guys the prep to a date. In a quick glance, he looked a little like Elvis and this guy was creative in his script and story. He even showed how the guys should start building those muscles with those dumb bells. I enjoyed his video, no wonder he was voted as one of the top contestants.

So, who would be the 'lucky' guy to win a hot date with beautiful, Mirelly Taylor, who acted in Kiss Me Again and Serving Sara and television shows including “Las Vegas”, “Punk’d”, and “Numb3rs”. This show will also see the appearance of Emmy Award Winning Producer, Scott Sternberg, and Andrew Firestone from “The Bachelor”. This online reality show will continue to appear in GoFish in the next 14 weeks so you can take your time to vote, watch the free videos at GoFish.com and if you like, submit a video too! Who knows, you can be one of those who could get a close encounter with Mirelly.

I can't wait to find out who is the lucky guy...

A peek at indoor fountains

I tend to take notice at indoor fountains feature wherever I am, whether it's visiting a friend's house, a restaurant, a shopping mall, a retail shop or in a business office. Somehow, watching a fountain brings me mental relief and calms my emotional being. The sounds of fountains are soothing, relaxing and comforting. My friend, Tracy, has a wall fountain near the entrance of her house and it is beautiful.

Nowadays, it is common to place tabletop fountains or misting fountain in the house or office. Besides being an ornament and decorative display, a mist fountain is known for being a humidifier and an ionic purifier in the room. Great for adding moisture in the air during winter months and in dry climates. Besides, it is beautiful to behold, safe and natural, with no chemicals used in creating the mist.

Don't ask me why but I simply adore table top fountains. I always find them beautiful and if positioned at the right place, it becomes part of the living space. Watching the water feature and hearing the sounds of the flowing water breaks up the monotony of everyday stresses.

Maybe I should start shopping for one in my home office... at least I have something to admire when my mind gets too cluttered and overwhelmed...

Clothing close to nature

This is a cool, fun and artistic online store that stocks clothing for men, women and children, accessories, homeware and even rain boots! The stuff sold in Hatley Nature get you closer to nature... I love the illustration of those cute T-shirts and pajamas - so nice, so cute!



Hatley's childrens pajamas are 100% cotton baby rib super combed for softness and comfort. The pajama set is a combination of knit long sleeve rib tee with applique "Purrrfect" Cat design and the bottoms are an overall print baby rib with an elastic waist band. Well, I just love children clad in cute pajamas :) Go check out the other designs... I promise you will be spending too much deciding which ones to buy... btw, this is not a sponsored post :)

Be rewarded for being loyal

How nice if you can get rewarded for being loyal? Well, if you are single, engaged or married for less than 3 years, is someone who is loyal to your favourite merchants, then spend your next few minutes to check out this brand, new, exciting shopping concept known as utango rewards program.

Here's how it works with utango rewards program:

As registered members of utango, you get to save over a period when you shop on a regular basis with the participating merchants. Basically, your loyalty means staying 'married' to uTANGO to qualify for the life stage cash rewards. It is like a one-stop place for your life needs - at uTANGO, you can find a place to shop, plan for your wedding, book a vacation, get help and advice on finances, learn about health, parenting, relationships, and best of all, earn rewards for life!

If you are a travel freak like me, uTANGO travel deals offer attractive discounts and as members, you continue to earn rewards (TANGO bucks) for every dollar spent! Some of the merchants include Sephora, COMP USA, American Eagle Outfitters and new merchants like Hatley Organic t-shirt store. It's great to know that I'm earning TANGO bucks while making my fave purchases.

Oh, did I mention that you also stand a chance to even earn up to 1 million cash in the uTango rewards program? If you register now, you even get a good head start of earning 1,000 TANGO bucks to your new account! Don't worry, membership is free!

Top 10 honeymoon hideaways

Wondering where to go for your honeymoon? After months of planning your big day, take a much needed holiday at one of these romantic honeymoon destinations.

Here are the Top 10 honeymoon hideaways.

1. Ca'Maria Adele, Venice
2. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
3. Radisson Aruba Resort and Casino, Aruba
4. Pegasus Suites, Santorini
5. Villa Beach Cottages, St. Lucia
6. Le Meridien Bora Bora
7. Hotel La Perouse, Nice
8. The Wellesley Resort Fiji
9. Dreams Puerto Vallarta
10. Uma Ubud, Bali

Seduce a Celeb reality show

If you are into reality shows, don't miss this new online one called, "Seduce a Celeb". And the
celeb of this show is Mirelly Taylor, who has appeared in Kiss Me Again and Serving Sara and television shows, “Las Vegas”, “Punk’d”, and “Numb3rs”. All you need to do is to submit your videos and show what you have got to win yourself a date with Mirelly.

The video and contest description for Seduce a Celeb will run on GoFish.com over the next 14 weeks. And the people behind this exciting show are Emmy Award Winning Producer, Scott Sternberg, and Andrew Firestone from “The Bachelor”.

So unleash your creativity, show your assets and think about how you can stand out to win! Actually, I think the video submissions would be fun to watch, I wonder what these guys are going to do to get close to beautiful and sexy Mirelly. Perhaps, you prefer to cast your votes on who you think deserve to get a date with a celeb!

If you need more information, just hop over to the Free videos at GoFish.com and watch the 3 steps video that shows instructions in entering the contest... who knows, you may be dating a celeb in no time!

Completely weaned

Today is the day 7 of complete weaning. It's been a wonderful journey in the last 2.5 years... seems like yesterday and I am so glad I made it. Clayton is learning to sleep through since. I know it has been tough for him but he is doing so well and I'm so proud of him.

Just a message to any moms who are still nursing your babies or toddlers.. keep on the good work!

IT transformational software

I was plainly browsing some business websites and stumbled upon Troux Technologies, a leading company in IT Transformation software and solutions. Troux Standards Management solutions transform a business’s current state to a desired state that provides optimum value through risk management, cost management and investment planning. Along with providing business solutions and supporting platforms for an organization, the team work alongside with clients to achieve their goals and guide them towards the future initatives.

Account suspended??

Oh dear... I woke up this morning, opened up all my blogs and guess what, two of my accounts had been suspended!! I panicked, I was worried... what happened?

Something came to my mind, we ran an email campaign yesterday and that could cause a problem. I questioned DH on this and he confirmed that an email blast was sent out to in relations to a marketing campaign for our upcoming event.

I probed further and wrote to the hosting center and found out that we were reported for SPAMvertising! How in the world did that ever happened?

Now, I'm trying to get my sites up again... I am upset with DH, upset with the entire campaign. Know what, we are not spammers and we do not spam! C'mon hostgator, please reinstate my account!!

A perfect nose

Do you like your nose? Ever wish for a sharp nose, thinner nose, taller nose or smaller nose? I had a friend in secondary who loved pinching her nose. I asked her why once and she told that would make her nose taller and sharper - true? I think so. But if you want a nose like the celebrity on the moviescreen, then you need to consider a Beverly Hills rhinoplasty... oh yes, that's the home of the rich, the famous, the stylish, the high taste, the glamour and the "who is who"!



The unique thing about a Beverly Hills nose job is The Rodeo Drive Breathe Easy Rhinoplasty. What makes it special is that the surgeons do not just construct a nice nose to suit your face shape and features, but the treatment also ensures that you can breathe well after the surgery. In other words, not only do you get a beautiful nose at the end of the treatment, you can breathe freely and perfectly, unlike some surgeries which focus on the aesthetics and compromise on the breathing aspects.

Like a nose job done... start saving and head to Beverly Hills for a California rhinoplasty!

Be a cutting edge real estate agent

If you want to be a cutting-edge real estate agent these days, you gotta be different, creative and stand out from the crowd. How? You wonder.

First and foremost, you need to possess superior customer service and be reliable, trustworthy and honest. Few years ago, DH and myself met a real estate agent for a property viewing and the lady was tactless enough to ask DH if I was his 'daughter' (lol)... I was dressed casually in shorts and I did so young then :) Then, we also had experience with agents who were late for appointments and never delivered their promises.

One other ways to be an organized and efficient real estate agent would be to look into investing in a Real Estate Software. The AgentOrganizer helps to organize your clients' list, listings, appointments, buyers, sellers...etc. Also, you can prepare marketing materials such as newsletters, flyers, pamplets for clients and potential buyers.

Download now for a free 15 day trial or purchase it with a super secret discount with coupon code: PPP10

My online banking experience

I've been so frustrated with the online banking facilities with my Citibank credit card... it is always 'temporarily not available' and that is causing delays in my payment! But the truth is that I have been a Citibank card member for the last 16 years and I haven't regretted one bit. With Citibank, I can make a collect call in any part of the world and the customer support is always helpful. Once, I recalled losing my credit card while holidaying in Tasmania and I got a replacement the next day! That was how efficient the bank can be!

Since I am living overseas, it only makes sense for me to do all my banking online - savings and current. It makes all banking transactions convenient, all at the click of the mouse - thanks to wireless broadband and internet connection.



My UK friend was telling me about how important it was for her to open bank accounts with reputable banks to be ensured of unwavering support and service. Recently, Alliance & Leicester had been named as Best Current Account Provider, a prestigious award by UK's best selling personal finance magazine, Moneywise. For that, the choice was clear and she didn't have to think too hard about which bank to choose.

Do you conduct your banking online too? What is experience with that?

My Pick on Hawaii Vacation Rentals

I'm in the mood to conduct a quick research on my Hawaii vacation rental options for my family vacation in December. As usual, I prefer making my Hotel Reservations online which often come with attractive hotel discounts and other perks.

Here are a couple of apartments I pick along the way ...



1) RESORTQUEST WAIKIKI BEACH TOWER
Well, this one is premium, luxurious, my preferred accommodation, located on Kalakaua Avenue, known for its trendy shopping, dining and entertainment venues. With public transportation nearby, it seems to be the ideal choice to explore the island!



It satisfies my requirements of having a well-equipped kitchen and private balcony that overlooks the ocean, plus other amenities include cable television, DVD players and Internet access! That means, I can still blog at my convenience - *wink* As expected, this luxurious property does come with a price tag of approx $400 per night (outch!)



2) CASTLE WAIKIKI SHORE
This 31/2 star oceanfront property seems ideal in terms of price, location, amenities and features. Affordably priced at $210 per night for a studio oceanview, it is only one block from bustling Kalakaua Avenue and within easy access of public transport too.



With plenty of sun, sand and recreational activities, shady picnic areas, it is a lovely place to catch a morning sunrise or sip margaritas before the beautiful sunset vistas. The hotel offers daily housekeeping service with a variety of studio, one- and two-bedroom suites that are bright, airy and spacious with an island feel. All rooms are well-equipped with Internet access and kitchen facilities,a balcony for a perfect relaxation and what more, some of the two-bedroom units have a second bathroom and a 42-inch plasma television!



These information come from HotelReservations which offer online vacation rentals for worldwide destinations. The rates offer on this site are competitive and what I really like is that every property comes with detailed description and dramatic photos, which are useful in the selection process. You can choose to book your hotels online or call the toll free number, and in any case if you have any queries, the team will be ready to assist you in your vacation needs.

Happy Mother's Day!

To all moms:



Happy Mother's Day with Love...

Are you brand conscious?

How many pair of sunglasses do you own? I've got a friend who is 'crazy' over sunglasses. She has almost every style for every fashion attire - business, sports, casual - but she would not spend money on branded ones.

Even though the ones she bought were not 'branded', I was often attracted to the nice design and superior quality of her sunglasses. Through her, I began to realize that good sunglasses need not come with an expensive endorsement or brand. A lot of those replica ones sold in flea markets, shopping kiosks or fairs are almost similar to designer-labeled ones, except that there is no monogram on them. It is important to ensure that the lens are genuine and of good quality, comes with authentic UV protection and do not warp under heat conditions.



In the light of business opportunity, if you are keen on setting up a business selling replica sunglasses, I discover that there is a wholesale sunglasses online store that may interest you. There are all sorts of sunglasses available and they can fetch good profits if sold in the right locations as the costs of these replicas are fairly low compared to branded ones.

Actually, I am rather impressed with all the designs... if you are not the brand conscious sort, you would share my sentiment... but if you are, go get the expensive originals :)

Back from Singapore

Just got back from Singapore and I'm blogging again!

It was a fruitful trip. We had officially started a new business in Singapore and this deal had finalized faster than we could imagine or think. Looking back, I met up with my good friend a month ago and from that dinner, we ended being business partners! I have known RL for 20 years and I never dreamt that we would reconnect back in this manner after a long communication break of 10 years. I can see that he is doing so well in his consulting firm and I am truly proud of him.

Moving forward, I am excited to launch our first event in November and getting this new business up and going in the next few months.

More reports on the trip coming soon...

Another trip to Singapore

I'm off to Singapore for a business trip later today. We will be finalizing our partnership with a Singapore consultant company to start up a new seminar company in Singapore. This is an exciting partnership and I am happy that we can have a business in Singapore, that means, making some Singapore dollars (*lol*).

So... going to miss blogging for a couple of days. Guess it's time to take a little break with the family as well... and yes, to be home on Mother's Day.

Have lovely weekend, everyone.

The importance of CRM system

Building up a business is never easy, as with most things in life. So when we began our seminar business, we had no database in our list and it was an exciting journey. I am happy to say that after 5 years in the seminar business, we have built a database of close to 10K, the list making up of our customers and contacts from our events as well as partners' database.

As we have building a telesales team, DH is beginning to consider a more efficient way to track sales performance and manage our base. A reliable and efficient crm software can increase the productivity of the team and eventually, lead to more sales and increased profits. Also, one of the advantages of a CRM software such as AIMpromote helps to define and create an overview report of quality leads and the ROI of a campaign implemented.

I just realized that there is an online demo video to better explained the CRM system at AIMpromote and yes, a 14 day free-trial... that might be a good start for us.

Talk art, talk expression

Alot of my friends expect me to paint well, just because I study graphic designer. Little do they know that art and design are quite different in its own right. I love acrylic paintings but am just never cut out for fine art painting.



Personally, I'm attracted to vibrant colours and abstract compositions, textures and form appeal strongly to me, just like the art of Russian Artist Victor Lysakov, whose works have recently been introduced to the American art lovers. His modern expressionist paintings triggers thoughts, induce curiosity and bring a sense of mystery to some. From his works, I can see his appreciation for animals, creatures, nature, traditional and modern motifs. The forms are bold and each art exudes its own space, depth and expression.



I may not know how to paint well but I enjoy seeing blended tones and shades of colours transformed into a totally new art form while the subject matter depict life and its unique meaning. If you share my love for expressionist paintings, this page shoes some of my favourites by the gifted artist, Victor Lysakov.

LoudLaunch - Compensating bloggers for their unbiased opinions, reviews, and analysis. View the LoudLaunch campaign release this post was based on.

Stop Your Addiction

In all things, the 'first step' is the most challenging. Just like a little baby who first learnt how to take his first step... it was tough, painful, scary... but eventually, this challenge would be overcome.

Similarly, making a decision to take the 'first step' in any drug addiction recovery is the toughest. With this in mind, the Stone Hawk First Step 28-day drug rehab program is tailored to address the needs of those struggling in drug addictions. The program centers on the health aspects of detoxification and offering appropriate education to overcome drug addiction.

The First Step Drug Rehab consists of these 5 steps:

• Detoxification and Withdrawal
• Self Control and Communication Exercises
• Sauna Cleansing Process
• Study Improvement
• Drug Free Remedies for Discomforts

Know of someone who needs to take the 'first step', point him to Stop Your Addiction for a good head start.

Lemon cheesecake tart for you?

Yum... this lemon cheesecake tart is a unique recipe from ....... topped with graham crackers! Order a pack of 4 from...............

Oops... I am just kidding. This isn't edible though they are made with 100% Soy!

Here's the 'real' description: Lemon Cheesecake...Creamy cheesecake with tart lemon, finished off with graham cracker undertones.

100% Kosher Handcrafted Soy Tarts to be used in a Tart burner. Each tart has a burn time of over 20 hrs long & still strong!

$9.95 each 4 pack (reg. price $10.95 ) from mamaandme

The holy matrimony of Kim Meng & Kim

Hmm... I'm a little late for Wordless Wednesday... but this post needs to be up!

How cool is your shades?

How much do you know about shades? Do you know that sportsmen and athletes prefer shades with polarized sunglasses? So what exactly are polarized lens?

Polarized sunglasses are better known for its well-defined clear vision and the best ones to fight glare. All sunglasses have tints and coatings that reduce the sun's glare but due to the treatments to the coatings, the lens filter is affected by the light hitting the lens. And because polarization is not a coating, it blocks only the glare, thus, ensuring a crisp vision.

Now that you know the facts, let's check out some cool shades by Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses...


One of my favourites is Klemm - Made in Italy, this is meant for the retro, fashion-inspired and those who want to look the versatility of wearing this on the street or serious play.


If you prefer a lightweight, simple, subtle and unisex frame, don't miss the UPD™, made with stainless steel hinges offering maximum comfort and protection for sport or street.



This pair of Delite is sexy, luxurious and as stylish as polarized sunglasses can take its style! I like that!

Now that you have some facts about polarized sunglasses, it's your turn to pick your style for your next outdoor adventure at Ads Sports Eyewear.

Restohof

So you are a University student fresh out of school and thinking about a ESL teaching job in Korea. Maybe it's the Korean culture that drawing you or the people or other personal reasons that require you to move there.

Where do you start to find that teaching job and being assured that this is the right place to kick start your overseas teaching career? Restohof is a community site that focuses on ESL jobs in career, with the intention to help and serve teachers and job hunters.

It is a site that allows registered members to vote positively (Go ahead) for the job listing posted from three Korean job boards, or members can also vote negatively (Grudge). In other words, potential job seekers can analyze and compare posted jobs before making an application, thus, reducing the risks of being cheated or conned!

This community site is new and needs the buzz to get the message out. So if teaching ESL in Korea is in your mind, drop by to check it out.

The website building software

Couple of months ago, my DH had been reminding me about an upcoming internet marketing preview to be held in the heart of town. That was the 'preview' that got many seminar junkies talking about it. Why? The marketing approach was unique.

StoresOnlineInc.com hosted a luncheon or dinner session for FREE and you even got a freebie to take home. If I could recall, a professional desktop diary. Anyhow, DH attended it and even bought a couple of workshop tickets, with a hope that I would tag along.

So what does Storesonline specializes in? Very simply, it is meant for anyone (entrepreneur, business) who is keen to set up a store online, by using its powerful website building software. According to DH, the attendance was fantastic and about 10% of the audience (10-20) signed up for the online software package.

Did DH come home with a purchase? You bet! I'll save the juicy bits in the next few days...

A healthy broth

Feeling sick? Try this simple broth from Dr Bernard Jensen, a renowned natural health therapist and advocate:

Take four to five vegetables. Liquefy in blender. Bring to a boil. Add soy milk powder and simmer three or four minutes. Strain. This is a special, calming life-giving broth.

Have I tried it? Not yet. I should. Yes, I would :)

Need cash for a new retail biz?

Planning on starting a new retail shop or restaurant business but needs cash?
small business loans
ARF is a licensed finance company that helps solve your initial business capital woes when it comes to starting a new business. According to the website, loans starts from $5k - $500K and the application process is a simple and easy one, with little documentation.

Focusing on small - medium sized companies, ARF promises good customer service support to get you started and realized your dream to becoming your own boss.

Tips for moms to be

Are you expecting? Here's a quick tip for moms to be.

Studies show that regular exercise during pregnancy helps to improve sleep quality, boosts your energy level throughout the day, decreases depression, and protects you against back pain and gestational diabetes (two common problems during pregnancy). Most importantly, it helps you avoid gaining too much weight, getting fat, getting stretch marks, and getting those awful cellulite dimples.

So moms to be... go for that morning walk, yoga class and light exercise.. fit ball is great!

Eliminating Debts

Let's get straight to the point here: Do you have debts? It can be credit cards debts, home renovation debts, new home debts, car loan debts, personal debts, bads debts... whatever. There is but one common agreement, that is, we all don't enjoy being in debt!

So, how is a website that talks about how you can transform debt into wealth. Wait a minute... what did I just said? How can anyone transform debt into wealth? Author of the World's Bestselling Personal Debt Elimination Program, John Cummuta has released an online program to teach people how to "retire a debt-free millionaire".

I know it sounds unbelievable but if the world's most successful coach, Anthony Robbins, would invite John to speak in his wealth creation seminars, there is be something unique and credible about this system.

If you are still keen to know more about how to pay off debt, check out the site.

Ranting

The internet was down for a few hours earlier and it caused so much disruptions. Somehow, I manually configured the system after the advice of Telekom's technician and still, it wouldn't worked.

Got a big lecture from my DH for calling in to lodge the report cos it brought trouble than help.

ARggrhhhh...

Wanna be a US citizen?

Many of our friends are planning for migration with some in the midst of application. It seems like the few most popular countries people are opting for are namely Australia, New Zealand and US.

Before our Aussie migration was approved, DH was contemplating on a US citizenship application. It is not surprising why he thinks about that. His close cousins live in California and his youngest brother, in Sans Francisco. Besides, he did his high school and university studies in Arizona.

As with any kind of migration, you need to be sure of your decision and feel comfortable about your chosen destination. Also, migration agents have one advice in common: Apply before laws change! With the advent of internet technology, you can apply for US citizenship online conveniently with guided instructions for new applicants. In case you don't know, it can be an overwhelming and confusing process of becoming a US Citizen but here is a website that presents the important information in a simple and understandable way. Most importantly, you save money on engaging lawyers.

My brother in law is a PR in US while his cousins are now citizens. Let's look at some perks of becoming a US citizen (courtesy of uscitienship.info):

1. The right to vote and obtain certain federal jobs
2. Security from anti-immigrant laws
3. Security from removal
4. The right to live or take long trips outside the United States
5. Special rights and protections when traveling outside the United States
6. An unquestioned right to return to the United States
7. The ability to bring other family members to the United States (faster than you could as a permanent resident)
8. The right to apply for public benefits
9. Cost savings in renewing Green card every 10 years (in fees and time)
10. Pass Citizenship to your children

Do you have a health-related blog?

Do you have a health-related blog? If you do, head down and submit your blog to CheckUpToday.com

It doesn't matter what your page rank is and you don’t have to have a dot com, dot net, or dot org in order to be considered.

The only requirement is that you have a passion for your topic and some “In Your Shoez” bling on your blog.

Checkup Today is a grassroots health network of real people that have a heart and passion for sharing what it’s like to walk a thousand miles in their shoes. It seeks to cover all ends of the health spectrum by showcasing your talents and pointing people to your health blogs.

So, got a health-related blog, head to CheckUp Today now! Be the first 20 contributors to get approved and you get to bring 2 extra sites/blogs to the site! Oh yes, I'm the first 20 whose blog got approved so I'll be bringing 2 more of my blogs with me!

Let's go cell phone shopping!

Who doesn't own a cell phone? Hands up! None? Who likes a new cell phone? Hands up! Oops! I see many hands!

Let's go cell phone shopping for some chic cool phones!



1) Motorola V3 Cherry Blossom Tattoo
This pink cell phone is about style, trend and fashion. It is designed as the thinnest flip phone with feminine florals on the cover. Equipped with bluetooth technology, camcorder/camera, and a 2.2” color display, this is a pretty phone for any lady with likes to be coordinated.



2) Motorola Dolce Gabbana RAZR
If you are a fan of high fashion lines, Dolce Gabbana will be a familiar name. This phone has Gold Plated Aluminum Shell And Etched Precision-crafted Keypad, and it's incredibly thin and light - it's less than 1/2 inch thick! Living up to the high fashion brand name, it comes with bluetooth wireless technology abd the 1.23 Megapixel Digital Camera takes pictures of print quality. For those who fave digital videos, the phone takes extra long video clips.

If you still like to do more shopping, look no further as Wirefly has great deals on T-Mobile RAZRs, smartphones, wireless PC cards and much more! Don't miss the special deals from T-Mobile, some cell phones come with freebies such as bluetooth headset, other accessories and free rebates.

Visit Cell Phone Shop and save up to 80% on your cell phone accessories.

Spills from my heart...

Today is the 2nd official day of my complete end to this nursing journey. I made this decision after knowing that I might have asthma. And since the doctor confirmed it, I have decided to go on a detox once I complete all medications.

I'm a firm believer of treating the root cause of a disease or physical condition. I won't accept what the doctor claims to be untreatable or incurable for certain sicknesses. To begin my detox program, nursing would have to stop or the toxins may pass on to Clayton.

But know what, I didn't know it is affecting me emotionally until a short chat with my good friend earlier on. I was getting emotional, with tears welling up my eyes, when I told her that I had stopped nursing Clayton. He would cry and wail for a while (don't know how long cos I am so tired) and I felt so sad. I was tempted to give in and let him nursed a little more but I couldn't. It was tough love...

I held him close to me and talked nicely, gently and praying that he would understand what I said. Thankfully, he would settle for apple juice after a while... it was alot of patience and calmness. I was glad that he dozed off to sleep after that and when morning came, he would be smiling again...

Let's go property shopping

I was chatting with my pal, Rosalind who had just got their Australia business visa approved. This was definitely good news and they had already booked an apartment in the heart of Melbourne, Victoria.

It would our turn to go property searching in a couple of years' time. As we are still deciding where to settle ourselves, we would need to do alot more research than expected. The time will come to tap on the resources I found at Property Mart Overseas. Know what, this website offers properties in 92 countries, take your pick of houses, apartments, penthouses, studios etc... most importantly, they offer attractive deals on the listed properties.



The website gives a quick glance of your desired location and you can view the number of properties available in the city. I was taking a quick look at Germany and 98 houses in germany with most concentrating on Berlin were listed.



Unfortunately, I couldn't find any in Australia yet, but since it's a fairly new site, I'll be expecting to see some in the next few months.

Herbal (Viagra)

Say Viagra and what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Men! Sex! Pfizer! What else?

In Malaysia, the use of the herb, Tongkat Ali, is said to deliver similar optimum results as the Viagra drug, but only in the natural form. Before I proceed further, I must clarify my personal opinion on using male performance oral aids. I think the invention of Viagra can help to improve the sexual lives of marriage couples, especially for men with certain physical conditions such as lack of energy and stamina, libido and abnormal male sexual function. But whether or not the side effects of the drug is detrimental to health on prolonged use, I am not qualified to offer a comment.



I found out about a herbal Viagra, Mega-V which combines a blend of Tongkat Ali and some Chinese traditional herbs that are said to improve masculine energy. It is a formulation to support healthy, normal male sexual function and ultimately, helps to enhance sexual relationships between couples. Mega-V contains Tongkat Ali, Panax Ginseng, Cordyceps Sinensis and Horny Goat Weed. If you are familiar to sexual health supplements, you may find these ingredients familiar as the product is 100% herbal and does not contain any chemicals or drug prescriptions found in Viagra, Levitra and Cialis.

So if you really, really help to enhance the sexual intimacy with your wife or husband, go for the natural option.

Business information on Encyclocentral

Need a quick glance on businesses available in the Net, check out theBusiness & Finance category at this e-encyclopaedia. Take for instance, if you are sourcing for a clocks manufacturer, you can read more about Ridgeway Clocks. Or how about finding out more about what is citrus fruit processing? Do you know that this is a lucrative profession that complements strongly to the world of cuisine.

Writing for sponsored reviews

I have been writing for Sponsored Reviews for a little while and kinda enjoy the bidding system. Though I wish every advertiser would take the effort to decline the bids if the price is not right instead of leaving us bloggers at the pending status. Anyways, can't complain as I have received a few approved assignments from advertisers. The 35% cut from sponsored reviews takes a little while to get used to but come to think about it, this is an open system and it's good.

Last Sunday, I was overjoyed when I got an approved review of $35!! But sadly, I received an email alert from Sponsored Reviews that the post was put out using a stolen credit card - arrgrrhhh... well, at least I didn't start writing, just a little disappointment over the event.

Overall, I like sponsored reviews... just hoping for more approved bids though :)

*This is NOT a sponsored post... I wish it is!!

A marketing blog on social media and SEO

The hot topic in and around the blogosphere has been social networking or social media. Personally, I have been working on getting my readers to particpate in my blog. The author of a marketing blog, britoplan.com explains his thoughts on the 5 distinct characteristics of social media, which are:

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

Well, like it or not, most of us bloggers are tapping on the power of social media to draw more traffic and get new visitors. Some of us have understood a little of SEO and start to work on link exchanges and working on increasing the page rankings of our sites.

I'm quite encouraged to read from britoplan.com that SEO is not rocket science... the truth is, I am made to believe by some internet marketers that it is! I guess I have much to learn from the author, who happens to be a SEO expert in the bay area for his company. And if you are keen, you can learn some tips from him too.

I have asthma??

My worst fears came true today... the doctor told me I had asthma :(

I've never had asthma in my entire life so this is a hard truth to accept. My question is always: Is this going to be long-term? Personally, I've always been an advocate for alternative medicine and natural treatment methods. I stand on the philosophy of 'First, Do no harm". But this persistent cough in the wee hours of the morning has been troubling me for a long time and I know that I have to do something about it.

I'm that sort who will question the doctor ever detail about why I need this medicine, what are the side effects, how long do I need to be on it... etc. The doctor gave me an example of a man who refused to accept his medical condition and had to be admitted to the hospital on an emergency asthma attack. He seemed to be 'scaring' me...

I'm still wondering if I should take the second course of antibiotics... see, I'm anti-drugs!

For me, this is more than a physical condition but a spiritual awakening. I feel that the Lord is knocking that door of my heart for a long time, and this time, He did it 'loud'.

A few things to put in place after a visit to the doctor today:
Fix my spiritual life
Get back on a regular exercise routine
Get more physical rest
Learn to stay calm and take things easy
Be positive and have faith

I truly believe that this 'asthma' condition will be temporal... I will recover in no time, as long as I practice on the above. If you who are reading this is a believer in Christ, please pray for me.

Let's go shopping with coupons!

Are you an impulse shopper? Sometimes, I hate to think that I am one but perhaps I am :) I don't have the luxury to take my own sweet time to make my shopping purchases as DH dislikes shopping. So I'll sneak out in between meal and waiting times for a quick look around and it is common for me to end up buying something within 10-15mins.

Couple of weeks ago, I walked into a Massimo Dutti shop and bought four tops within 25 mins. If you ask me, I prefer to shop online at the convenience of my home office. This is especially so when I know that great savings are available at Coupon Chief, my one-stop coupon site! Most of the participating stores offer free shipping coupons for purchases above a certain amount.


Right now, when you shop using Target coupons, you receive a $5 off for every $50 spent and free shipping on orders over $50 in Women's apparel. For jewelry lovers, Blue Nile coupons offers a 20% on the Sterling Silver Diamond Heart Tag Bracelet, a timely gift for mom on Mother's day.

Clayton's drumming session

The couple had taken their vows. The guests had proceeded for the light refreshments. The photographers are busy with capturing more shots of the couple for the album...

my little boy had found himself some 'serious' recreation. This was caught on video by Tracy.

Outsourcing

I believe in the value of my time... which means focusing on what I'm good at and outsourcing what I have no skills or passion for! In our business, DH takes care of the strategy bit and I'll focus on the marketing and design. But when it comes to accounting, neither of us has the skills to get it right.

Now that we have a couple of employees, we need to find a qualified person to take care of payroll matters. Some companies charge exorbitant rates for bookkeeping and accounting work so it's important to talk to a few and get a quotation first before deciding on who to engage. When making a choice, find out how the company works and look for one that doesn't require you to sign a long term contract. As always, select one that has proven track records and understands small businesses.

If you need more help, have a look at the services offered at Accounting Paradise and the discount on Quickbooks.

Wedding dinner

I



A candid taken during the wedding dinner of Dexter and Kim... Clayton was a good boy last night. That was the first time he sat through in his high chair the entire dinner! I was so thankful for those 'digger' cards and shapes flash cards. He saw all the kids running around but didn't even gave us any trouble for keeping him in the chair...

The holy grail of SEO

I've never know what Search Engine Optimization (SEO) really is until I attended an internet marketing workshop last year. I admitted that I was confused about this whole topic about SEO then... had totally no clue whenever a discussion on this was carried out in our circle of business friends.

What I really like about the internet is the amount of knowledge I derived from it. Over the last 9 months, I read, searched and put in the efforts to find out why is SEO such a holy grail in the world of internet marketing.

The main purpose of SEO for many websites, businesses and bloggers is to draw more website traffic to the site and to obtain page rankings. This is a skill that requires careful research, analysis and investigation by skilled experts in the field.

In all SEO matters, the proper use of keywords remain crucial to optimize a site and be found in the search engines. What many would aim is to appear in Google's first few pages. To achieve that, companies are willing to spend on getting their products and services in top rankings on search engines. This is all about getting searched and being seen, which in turn will generate more buzz for companies, and hopefully to increase awareness and affect the bottom line profits.

Let the photos do the talking..

They say pictures speak a thousand words... so I'll let them do the talking today...



Flower girl, Claire adores Clayton


Here comes the bride...




Isn't she lovely?



This is the bridegroom! Oh.. he can twist his tongue like this .... practising for the night, I guess :)

FREE ipod giveaway

Is this another advertising hype? You got to findout to believe this: 30 gig ipod give away! No Joke! All you need is to open either a free checking, Free Web Billpay & Direct deposit account at www.addisonavenue.com. It is only a 2-step process to get a FREE ipod, really.

No minimum requirements, no hidden fees. It's that simple... and it's paperless!

Dexter and Kim ties the knot!

Today is going to be an exciting day... I'm attending my good friend's wedding. Dexter and Kim ties the knot today! Yay! We are so happy for both of them and can't wait to see he bride... ya, who really want to see the bridegroom - ha ha! Just kidding! I know Dexter will be reading this so I better write something nice lol.

More reports and pictures of the wedding later...

Bonsai

Ever wonder what those small little 'manicured trees' in the houses of green fingers' enthusiasts? I'm sure you come across 'Bonsai' but do you know what it mean? 'Bon' actually means 'tray' and 'Sai means 'growing' and 'planting'. So it literally means 'tray planting' or 'tray growing'.

All I know is that this is an enquisite art popular among the hobbyists and it requires lots of patience, dedication and devotion! Here's a detailed body of information if you are a bonsai enthusiasts or thinking of being one.

I found my shopping cart software!

My good friend shared a business idea with me during our get together dinner few weeks ago. It was related to selling artistic things and immediately, I suggested to create an online store. Personally, I have no experience with setting up an online store. I have only gotten to being an affiliate, blogging and design some web headers but never close to knowing how to have start a shopping cart store.

I have consulted some internet marketing friends on how I can get started but the answers I get are vague, no one seems to point me to a good resource. Then I come across an award winning shopping cart software by Ashop Commerce. The site allows me to do a test drive of the software which is a fantastic way to get a feel of features and functions. I am impressed by the user-friendliness of how I can manage my visitors and buyers, content, layout, categories and analyze the statistics of the hits. I never know it is so easy to start an online store... whew!

Moreover, there is no installation required and I am able to access the program wherever I am. Subscribing to an Ashop Commerce ecommerce software include free technical support, live help, secure hosting, fasting uploading, free upgrades for LIFE, daily backups, secure checkout, free SSL certificate and more! The starter pack is from $99 AUD per month with a few other plans, depending on your online business needs.

Looks like I have more homework to do in the next few weeks, to explore and find out more about the software. If you like, try out for a FREE 10-day trial!

Send an orchid on Mother's Day!

I haven't met any woman who doesn' t like receiving flowers. Sending flowers has always been a symbol of gratitude, love, friendship, comfort, apology and cheer. Don't ask me why but I always enjoy being around flowers. They give me a sense of calmness, peace and wellness. One of my favourite activities is to visit the nursery and I always end up buying too much flowers. It just makes me feel good!



This Mother' Day, if you are confused with the many gift options out there, sending a lovely orchid or plant from flowershop.com is unique and exotic. This family-owned online store has lots of offer - gourmet gift baskets, flower arrangements, fruit baskets or even luxury gifts. With a secure transaction and guaranteed service, this is a good stop to pick a nice order of Mother's Day flowers.

A pink RAZR cell phone for mum

My mum is not a techno savvy person and I don't expect her to be, really. She's in her 50s, close to retirement, grown up in those days where having a TV set in the house is a luxury... I mean, what do you expect?

2 years ago, she picked up a phone while walking home from work. She was so excited that she called my brother right away to ask what to do. You need to know that my mum has never owned a cell phone. After careful instructions from my brother, she bought herself a pre-paid calling card and started learning how to use a cell phone. I was happy that she had finally learnt how to use a cell phone. For a long time, I had wanted to buy her a phone but she just refused. It was something to do with the fear of the unfamiliar!


Well, it's Mother's day this weekend. I am just wondering if I should get her a new phone to replace this old one. Apparently, I can get a brand new FREE free RAZR cell phone with a new Cingular wireless account! And it's mum's favourite colour: pink! How nice! How timely! And here's another BONUS! - a Motorola H3 Grey Bluetooth Headset worth $70! What a deal!

Natural mouthwash

Do you use a mouthwash? I don't cos I hate the taste of those mouthwash on the pharmacy shelves. I think they taste like medicine! Once, I tried gargling Listerine in my mouth and before I could hold it for a second, I spat out!

I found a natural remedy for a soothing mouthwash. Just use one teaspoon of chlorophyll, straight or diluted in one-half cup water, about couple of times a day. Work the liquid around your teeth and hold it in the mouth for two or three minutes. This remedy can also be used to speed up your recovery from a tooth surgery.

Is cold calling a waste of time?

DH and myself have been cold calling for the past 5 years in our seminar business. Just as we think this is 'the way' to get new leads and clients, I came across this site, Never Cold Call Again, which teaches people in the sales industry, business owners like myself, how to get sales without cold calling. Well, for a moment, it makes me think that Cold Calling Is A Waste Of Time. Well, you can get a 10-chapter free download of their home study course, written by Frank Rumbauskas, a NY Times bestselling author.

Are you also in sales? Wanna stop cold calling? Better head down to www.nevercoldcall.com

You don't like raw salads?

Do you like raw salads? If you don't, take heart. Raw salads cannot be easily digested by some. In fact, cooked vegetables and raw vegetable juice together are almost the same a eating a raw salad. In many cases, this combination can help to eliminate gas. So don't feel 'unhealthy' if your friend next to you is munching raw greens during lunch... get your portion of vegetable juices or cooked vegetables and you'll do just fine :)

Mum's planning for retirement

My mum will be retiring in a couple of years' time. I'm hoping that she will take a step back and allow herself to enjoy the pleasures of life instead of keeping busy all the time. She's been wondering what she should do with her retirement funds and has been looking for some options. The article at www.flexibleRetirementPlanner.com features a good article on what to look for when choosing a better retirement planner. I'm heading down for a good read before sharing the ideas with my mum the next time I visit her.

A day in the life of a WAHM

It had been quite a stressful day. My 2.5 year old was living up to the name of "Terrible Two" the entire afternoon since he got back from nursery. I thought he would be 'satisfied' with 3 hours of playing in school but he came back and wanted more! He demanded that I had to sit in his playroom with him and I couldn't even find the peace to blog a proper post. I suspected that he was overtired and getting him to nap but....

He continued his crankiness and 10 minutes ago, he knocked out and snoozed into dreamland. I finally get to do a decent post.... sigh.... what a day!

Have you had lasik?

Just 3 days ago, my close girlfriend from Singapore told me over instant messenger that she had her Lasik done. I asked how it was and she responded with such joy in her words of having 'perfect eyesight' now. Since then, she had been swimming weekly and jogging regularly with great convenience!



My brother in law who lives in San Francisco got his done 2 years ago but unfortunately, the results was not as pleasant as my girlfriend. I've always have mixed feelings as the life stories I have heard from people who have had lasik are diverse. Even DH who was close to getting lasik done had changed his mind after hearing the poor results from his own brother.

For now, I'm still comfy with wearing glasses though I do complain about occasional stress headaches from over-wearing. And with contact lens, they make my eyes dry and uncomfortable.

But who knows, I may decide to still choose lasik in few years' time when long sightedness sets in...

It's about choice

I was pondering over what my blogger friend, Violet wrote about how we chose to view events that took place in our lives. Sometimes, I tend to feel weary, irritated and negative about daily events. These lousy thoughts do take a toll on my emotions which worsen when I feel overwhelmed.

Amidst these thoughts, I would be reminded to count my blessings...

• instead of getting upset with a toddler who demands my attention, I should be glad that he is healthy, happy, active and smart.

• instead of complaining about the heat today, I should be thankful that I'm sitting in an air-con room, that I don't have to work on the construction site.

• instead of focusing on the negatives, it feels calmer to think positive.

So it's about about choice... choosing the right views, thoughts and actions. What's yours?

Judy and Sam loves golf!

Judy and Sam is a lovely couple I treasure and love whom I also regard as my big sister and brother. I have known them for almost 20 years, so close to the family that Sam was the one who walked me down the aisle on my big day. Judy is a HR professional who is always so warm, generous, kind and approachable.

This couple shares a common interest and passion, which is, golfing. They would include golf as a must do activity during family vacations and they are both good golfers too. In fact, Sam used to be my personal coach for 3 months before I love to KL.

I'm quite certain that they are going to love myrtle beach golf vacation packages for their coming anniversary. They are at an age where their teenage children are independent which allows them more time together as a couple. A golf vacation like this can rekindle their marriage and allow a time of relaxation, fun and enjoyment.

Dosh Dosh deals with Technorati Favourites Exchange criticisms

Just a couple of weeks ago, I followed the Technorati Favourites Exchange movement going on in the blogosphere and initiated by Dosh Dosh. Through this experiment, I have received many new visitors to my blogs and did my exchanges too.

As with any matter in the blogosphere, this Technorati Favourites Exchange has sparked lots of criticism and led to more discussions on whether this exchange is right or wrong. We all know that there will never be a definite right or wrong to anything, everyone reserves the right to state his/her opinion and basically, if you find this movement a conflict with your principles, then don't follow it. But if you think it can do some good to your web presence, why not hop in and make more friends and along the way, make new discoveries too.

I enjoy how the author of Dosh Dosh, Maki, dealt with these criticisms. Before you click on the link and read the details, go grab a coffee, answer your nature's call and you are all set.. let me warn you that it's a super duper long post. Don't forget to go through the comments too... they are definitely worth a read.

Updates of Clayton's playroom

It's been a week since Clayton has stopped attending nursery due to the school's temporary closure caused by Hands, Foot and Mouth disease. It is a tiring week for us.

Today is the 4th day he has his own play room. Everything seems ok and he's getting used to hanging out in his new hide out. I can sense that he is bored being stuck in the room all day so he will take TV break downstairs every now and then. Yet, this is better than having him in our home office all day.

DH and myself agreed that this is one of the right things we did - that is to create a 'space' for him. It feels good not to have to hop around toys around the office! I'm sure that with a little more time, he should be able to stay in the room by himself longer... and happier.

Job seeking site for sign language interpreters

Online job seeking sites are not new these days and they have helped to connect many job seekers with potential employers. But a niche online career and job site like TerpJobs is unique in providing jobs for sign language interpreters. Sign language is a skill that is not easily acquired and for this group of qualified sign language interpreters, you can now find your employer, realize your dreams through TerpJobs. You can post your resume online while searching for available jobs in the website.

For employers, if you are in need of a sign language interpreter, you can approach TerpJobs for your employment needs, saving you the trouble to place classified ads in the newspapers. All you need to do is to register an account with TerpJobs and after which, post your ad online and wait for the right candidates to apply for the job.

Kauai Condos

Mention Hawaii and you get me all excited and enthusiastic. We are planning for our family vacation end of the year and I am surely looking forward to it. My first Hawaii trip was dated 2004 and since that one trip, it was hard to forget the exotic, friendly and casual ambience of this lovely island.

I am so thankful that DH has agreed to the Hawaii trip and believe it or not, I'm already started my research on accommodations. I'm looking at renting a condo near Waikiki beach. Don't ask me why but I just love this beach. I caught the best sunset on camera in 2004 and I want to do it again! The kauai condos are looking good too, so are the ones in Oahu and Maui. Previously, I would just pick a nice hotel that is accessible but now, it has to be child-friendly and spacious. Some of these condos have amenities such as a nice children play area and heated pool, not forgetting sweeping ocean views from the balcony. Nice locations, especially those near the beach don't come cheap but well, it is convenient to just take a stroll (barefooted) as in when you like.

Moreover, December is a cool month in Hawaii. What I like about it is the temperate climate. All you need is a T-shirt and shorts and you can walk barefooted on the streets - many people do that! Oh, and don't forget the shopping too... DH would probably like to go for some snorkelling trips and Clayton can have fun with sand castles on the beach.

Enough said... I'm already in a vacation mood but I can't! I've got work to do and projects to complete before I can let my hair loose and enjoy! Here's more information about what's going on in Hawaii...


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Hawaii and Press Release:

Growing Ecotourism Industry In Hawaii Protects Environmental Assets While Increasing Profits Ecotourism is nature and culture based tourism that is ecologically sustainable and supports the well being of local communities. Commercial entities have become a positive influence on the environment because they promote a tourism industry that is environmentally and culturally sensitive while increasing profits. The availability of vacation accommodations through online resources such as HawaiianBeachRentals.com affords tourists the opportunity to plan a customized, environmentally-friendly vacation.

Maui, HI (PRWeb) December 30, 2006 -- According to the Hawaii Ecotourism Association (HEA), ecotourism is nature and culture based tourism that is ecologically sustainable and supports the well being of local communities. Commercial entities have become a positive influence on the environment because they promote a tourism industry that is environmentally and culturally sensitive while increasing profits. The availability of vacation accommodations through online resources such as HawaiianBeachRentals.com affords tourists the opportunity to plan customized, environmentally-friendly Hawaii vacations.

Recent statistics published in dBusinessNews reveal that visitor expenditures in Maui totaled 3.1 billion dollars in 2005 and 2.9 billion dollars in 2004. Maui's tourism sector is sound and growing, as evidenced by the fact that hotel occupancy is well above average for the Hawaiian Islands. Since Maui's economy is tourism-based, practicing ecotourism protects valuable environmental assets while luring savvy travelers to experience the raw beauty of a Pacific Island. Visiting an online vacation site is the simplest way to plan a customized trip to Maui or Kauai based on the principles of ecotourism. Jeff Berzolla of Hawaiian Beach Rentals states that, "We have traditionally specialized in providing our customers with alternative trips to Hawaii allowing them to stay in unique places and helping them coordinate the details of their dream vacation, be it romantic, active or relaxation focused. Also, our staff enjoys living and playing in Hawaii. Time off is often spent visiting the units we rent to our customers, whether they're Maui vacation rentals or condos on Kauai, to better understand the Islands and the beautiful paradise we share with the world."

According to Wayne Nastri, the western regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 95 million dollars has been committed to Hawaii within the past year to correct environmental violations while preventing future pollution. Clearly, capitalists and tree huggers are now teaming up as opposed to being at odds, finding it more progressive and profitable to protect the environment rather than exploit it. Environmentally responsible hotels known as "green hotels" use energy and natural resources in environmentally-friendly ways and give visitors a realistic Hawaiian experience without compromising the world around them. As a result, breathtaking natural wonders such as the majestic Na Pali coast can be found just steps away from many Kauai vacation rentals. Hawaiian vacations offer hiking, boating, snorkeling and whale watching in an unaffected, natural habitat. Since it is the incredible flora and fauna of Hawaii that lures vacationers, it is in the best interest of big business to protect the environment to keep the visitors coming back.

According to a recent poll of HEA members, to be considered as genuinely engaging in ecotourism, Hawaii travel operators need to minimize the negative impact on Hawaii's natural environment, cultural heritage and local communities, as well as maximize the positive impact on these factors. Additionally, rental operators must foster an appreciation of Hawaii's sense of place among staff and visitors. The spirit of the land is referred to as "aina" in Hawaii. Kauai condo rentals and hotels are sensitive to this "aina" because they are built with special care to have the least impact possible on the precious local land and wildlife. Securing such accommodations is easy with the online help of informed locals. Jeff Berzolla further says, "We like working with folks that have a passion for travel and want a customized experience that only a local person can help coordinate. Hawaiian Beach Rentals offers accommodations such as vacation homes, condos and hotels, as well as airfare and car rentals to customers wanting to travel to Hawaii. We want to help our customers have a unique experience in Hawaii so we can show them what Aloha is all about. Our services include the most up to date local information about Hawaii and the ability for customers to quickly and easily pay for their vacation online via a secure payment process."

A savvy traveler seeking information about ecotourism-based excursions to Maui and Kauai can visit HawaiianBeachRentals.com for additional details. Take advantage of technology to plan the most unique, socially-conscious trip of a lifetime!

A digital photo frame for my mum

Since I started blogging actively, I would make a conscious effort to bring my digital camera wherever I go. I like to capture candid shots of Clayton and other special moments with loved ones and friends.

I love capturing photos of Clayton with my mum and I know she enjoys it too. But I have a problem. As I often take continuous candid shots, it is expensive to process all the digital photos into prints. My mum doesn't have a computer and I don't travel with my laptop either. Due to that, I will only develop a few photos for mum and she would be questioning me on the other shots taken.

It looks like I have found a solution for this now! I can buy her a digital photo frame! With that, I could just load the memory card into the frame and she can view ALL the photos I've taken. These digital frames are available in various sizes and designs, depending on your preference and needs.

This is such a nice idea as it will also keep her 'company' since she doesn't get to see Clayton and me that often. With a digital photo frame, I don't have to worry about processing photos, hurdling my laptop and I can make mum happy.

Bid more to stay in Top 10

With the current Google PR in progress, there are some companies who love to have higher PR and more traffic to their website. Well, with this new bid link directory, Big Web Links Directory will place your URL in the Top 10 links based not on popularity, as with most directories, but on your highest bid amount.

In other words, if you like to be in the home page, you can adjust the bid amount to appear as one of the Top 10, plus your link will also appear in the top 20 listings in the top links page. This means your chances of being seen is higher by more consumers and users of the directory.

A recipe video

Here's how to prepare Shrimp Pad Thai:

Ingredients:

• Pad Thai Noodles, 10 oz.
• Sliced Shrimp, 6 oz.
• Bean Sprouts, 1 oz.
• Scallion, 1 oz.
• Whole Egg, 1 each
• Pad Thai Sauce, 4 oz.
• Ground Peanut, 1 tsp.
• Lime Wedge, 1 each
• Bean Sprouts, 1 oz.

• Pad Thai Sauce
• White Wine Vinegar 1qts
• Tomato Paste 2oz
• Sugar 3cups
• Fish Sauce 2cups
• Minced Garlic 1/4cup
• Jalapenos Minced 3ea
• Chili Flakes 1tbls
• Soy Sauce 2cups
• Yield 2 quarts

Instructions:

Bring heat to high on wok.
Add oil, egg and noodles; stir; add all vegetables; mix well.
Add Pad Thai Sauce and shrimp; stir very well.
Garnish with nuts, lime and sprouts

Here's your link for more Seafood Recipes.

My Page Rank updates

I've got good news!

With the current Google PR updates, this blog is now PR4 (previously 3). My health blog is gone to PR3 now and to my pleasant surprise, my shopping blog has gone from 0 to 4! I'm a little disappointed that home office women stays at 3 but well, I'm still thankful that it hasn't slided down.

Prophetline

In tough times, every company or business need to create more value by learning how to create dynamic partnerships inside and outside of the organization. Not only is it important to build up your business, you need to work on repeat and long term relationships with your partners and clients.

Prophetline specializes in POS and Retail Software which helps businesses to create solutions in software support, customer marketing and all operation processes. With a strong customer support team, Prophetline cares about your business success and encourages open communication with its clients and staff team. Check out Prophetline range of services to enhance your retail businesses and create successful business systems.

Would you lik a digital PA and companion?

Do you have problems with keeping track of appointments, your wife's birthdays, anniversary or important deadlines for your work? If the answer is yes, then here's the good news. Introducing the new revolutionary Ultra Hal Assistant, who is your digital personal assistant and companion. Ultra Hal is an artifcial intelligence program who speaks English and has the ability to help you, get you organized, remind you and chat with you.

You can customized Ultra Hal in your chosen animated character and has the flexibility of speaking to Hal or typing a message in your computer. With Hal, your life will never be bored and you don't have to work alone. Hal can help you to find and run programs for you, remember email addresses and phone numbers. Ultra Hal runs on Windows and for a free 30 day trial, begin your download now!

Importance of quality mailing lists

In the last few years, we have been working hard on building our company's database. Along the way, we are also approached by many marketing companies who are promoting their telemarketing lists to expand the promotion and and publicity for our seminars.

If you need more exposure for your products or services, Martin WorldWide is known for its credentials and services among many small businesses and Fortune 1000 companies. Besides specializing in customized lists, telemarketing lists or fax lists, their database is well researched and categorized thus are effective in delivering the best results for its clients.

Have you played paintball?

The weather these days have been unpredictable and weird - it is hot and humid one moment and rainy the next. It makes outing challenging especially when we have a little boy to bring along though we are lovers of the great outdoors.

Few years ago, his brother in law went on a team building trip with his company and told us all about his first paintball game experience. He became such an ardent fan and was thinking of buying his own paintball equipment. Somehow, he got us interested and we started gathering some friends for this fun too. I didn't know that paintballs have different characteristics. For someone who like me, the Draxxus Blaze 500 Count Paintballs would be good as they were made for recreational players: non-staining, easy to clean up, breaks on impact, but seldom in your gun. Those guys wouldn't settle for anything less than a pack of Diablo Crucifire; was told that it could break almost 'anything' and the stains left behind would remind you of your wildest paintball game!

DH was attracted to the Bob Long Defiant Paintball Gun Silver, the design was so cool while my brother in law liked an impact-resistant BT 4 Banshee Paintball Gun With Wood Grain.

I don't know about you but I think I'm just not cut out for this game. It was a rough and extreme experience. I had bruises all over my legs and I only wished I had better jerseys or masks on that day. But my DH, he had so much good fun with the team and I had never seen him played like this. If you ask me, this strategy game is really a guys game :)

Google PR update underway...

This Google PR update is sending everyone rolling with curiosity and anxieties. Some are overjoyed with the increase in PR while others are not too happy with the 'no change' status. I was told that the update is underway so we just to be patient.

After all the efforts in linking and regular posting, bloggers are expecting rewards and positive outcomes... well, I have yet to see much progress on my blogs. So you can say that I'm one of the anxious one. Bloggers who are active in paid posts know how important those high PR means.

Ok.. til the next update, we shall see... Anyone has good news to share?

Weird toilet for sale

Weird Toilet for Sale! Anyone? There are all sorts of weird looking product designs around us these days. This is a funny and interesting one - it's a one of a kind toilet seat and there is only ONE such toilet seat in this world. Someone posts this for sale in an online classified ad and if you are keen to own it, contact the seller!