| A blog on my journey as a WORK AT HOME MOM and my WORK AT HOME BUSINESS |

31 October, 2007

let's get groovy with groovle!



It's the last day of the month again! I am looking forward to a new month cos that means we are closer to our vacation! But before I can put aside all my work and get out there to enjoy, there are so much waiting to get done. I was supposed to get a brochure done for my Singapore office when I stumbled upon this cool stuff on the web. It is called 'Groovle' and it is all about having a groovy Google homepage!

What Groovle does is that it allows you to create your own Google search page. You can either choose from the home pages on the site including photos of celebrities, nature, animals, sports teams and others or you can upload your own image and create your customized home page. Since this is powered by Google, you can expect more features to be added in the near future but for now, you can have fun and get groovy with your customized Google home page! I played around with it for a while and loved the idea that you can place the search box anywhere you want on the page. After uploading your image, you can have the option of tiling the photo on your screen, stretch it to full size or framed it to create a clean look.

So check out Groovle and get your own Personalize Google home page for FREE!

hoping to catch Kilauea eruption



From what I learned from the Kona travel blog, Kona is an affordable vacation spot for a family with many mid-priced condos and bed and breakfasts. And because the Big Island is so big, we'll be spending a night in Kona and the other in Hilo. One thing for sure, we'll be heading to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in a rental car, and possibly a 4x4. I do hope that we can catch the eruption of the active volcano, Kilauea, when we are there!

For those who have a bit of more time, staying a few nights at one of the many Kona vacation rentals will do this beautiful island justice. Like I always say, there are so much to do but so little time. Whether you need to book your accommodation at Oahu or Kauai vacation rentals, many options await you at the website of Hawaiian Beach Rentals. Let's just say that this is a one-stop vacation booking site for anyone traveling to Hawaii.

an afternoon at fraser's hill



I guess the one who enjoyed the most in the trip was this little boy who found his freedom and fun at this quiet play ground. He had his choice of slides since there was no one around. It was a good break for the adults, watching how this toddler hopped from one place to another...



I was excited when they said that we were going to town but it didn't turned out the way I expected... town? what town was that?



We went looking for the waterfall but ended up in a little stream... this place didn't justify another night of stay :P

i always like beach houses

This morning, I spent some time checking out some Hawaii beach house options at Hawaiian beach rentals, which is a great place to shop and search for your Hawaii accommodations. I've always like a beach house all my adult years. I like to wake up to the sights of rolling waves or be greeted by a golden sunrise. It is all so relaxing and breathtaking. During the one night in Fraser's Hill, I enjoyed the fresh, crisp air in the morning so I believe it will be many times better in the Hawaiian islands, especially during the cooler months.

If you a travel freak like me, you may be interested to check out the Hawaii travel blog which provides many tips for your Hawaii trip. You can find out more about Kauai travel info or Oahu island, Maui or the Big Island. Well, I have found some of the resources to be useful for our coming Hawaii vacation.

I'm just looking forward to the ocean front views from our lanai at Hilton Hawaiian Village and the Marriott Waikiki.

30 October, 2007

skydiving in hawaii?



Has anyone done skydiving before? I did that 4 years ago before Clayton came along, which was a good decision cos' I wouldn't have done it if I was a mom then! DH and myself took up the courage to skydive from 14,ooo fit (tandem of course!) in Cairns and that was an experience of a lifetime. Honestly, I almost thought I was going to pass out when I was in the air at that time!

Someone asked me if I will skydive in Hawaii... I looked at him and replied with a firm 'NO'! Actually, I was told that skydiving is becoming one popular sport in this state, challenging the popularity of surfing. Hundreds of tourists visit this place to experience a different thrill of skydiving in Hawaii. Flying high above the air while looking down at volcano craters and high-rise waves can only be experienced in skydiving in Hawaii. You can read more about what other things you do in Kauai travel blog if you plan to travel to the island. It should be quite nice to rent one of the Hawaii home rentals if you are traveling as a family or in a big group. Since most travelers will begin their Hawaii vacation in Honolulu, reading up some Oahu vacation Info will be helpful in planning the itinerary. And that's exactly what I'm doing these few weeks. Like they always say, there are always so much to do but so little time.

back from Fraser's Hill

We are back from Fraser's Hill, after spending a night in Sri Damai bungalow. It was a great time breathing some fresh and cool mountain air and to get away from the hustle and bustle of work. Only problem was the roads to Fraser's Hill was winding which made the journey tiring for all of us. The fun part was we got to savor any food we wanted as we had a residential chef with us! Woohoo!

Well, the bungalow was big and spacious, though nothing like the ones in Kauai vacation rentals. If only it was like the ones described in Kauai travel blog, we wouldn't mind staying for another night or two. But it wasn't. If you have read about what to do in Kauai from the blog, you will know that Fraser's Hill is nothing like it. We drove around town in the afternoon and ended up in The Paddock but no one was keen to do any horse-riding. Sad to say, the horse riding centre wasn't that appealing or attractive so we ended sitting and chatting in a shed. But Kauai has pristine beaches, heaps of activities to keep one busy. I think we'll be too busy deciding what we want to do rather than wondering what to do!

That's it for the moment, more reports coming up!

29 October, 2007

on to fraser's hill

http://wikitravel.org/upload/en/5/5b/Center_PostOffice.JPG

We are taking a one night break to Fraser's Hill with our good friends, Dexter and Kim this afternoon. Actually, we won't planning to go as there are piles of work waiting to get done. But Dexter has been a good salesperson - he kept telling us about the resident chef who can cook anything to our liking and Asians being Asians, when you hear that there is good food somewhere, it's hard to say 'NO'. Then one morning, my boy told me that he liked Uncle Kim Meng and Auntie Kim.... that was like a confirmation to us that we should take a short trip with them. We have never been there and don't really know what to expect. But it's solely to spend some time with our friends so the attractions don't quite matter.

So, I'll be having a blog break this afternoon and night... time to rest those fingers, wrists and shoulders...

trucks are getting stylish too

Well, I don't know much about hardware stuff and I guess that's what the man in my house can come in handy :P When anything goes wrong with the cabinets or door hinges, I'll leave it to hubby to fix it up. These days, the trucks on the roads are getting more attractive in terms of the aesthetics and design. In fact, many of them are so nice that you wouldn't think they are meant for truck drivers only. Plus, you can purchase attractive and durable truck toolbox on the web, which is like an accessory to your cool truck. Many of these tool boxes come in different finishes and material so you can choose one that matches well with your truck. Trucks are no longer boring and stiff looking like before. Many car manufacturers are launching new designs and features to offer the modern and stylish generation.

28 October, 2007

learn from others on the map

I'm one of those who enjoy travel commentaries, travel reviews and participating in unbiased travel forums/sites. It all started when we were travelling to New Zealand and I needed to find out more about this beautiful country. Since, I've been an active contributor in this travel portal site.

Along the way, I stumbled upon Atlas Post. This is an interesting travel-related community site that allows you to read travel stories and personal articles based on the geographical location of the person. You can read someone's story and view their photos by clicking on the Map. The features of the site grants the user the opportunity to network and get to know friends from their neighbourhood. It can be someone who live near your city or work near your workplace. You can communicate, build friendship, send virtual gifts to your friends through the network.

I believe this is one way to expand your knowledge in travel destinations while providing you the opportunity to learn from like-minded individuals. Check out Atlas Post and get to know people via the MAP.

27 October, 2007

baby products and reviews portal

I just got back from a full moon party cum a birthday celebration of a two year old boy. It was clever of parents Callie and Darren to combine the celebrations together. It was a nice evening out especially when Clayton found little friends to play with. That left the adults with more time to catch up with each other.

Being a mom of two is not easy for Callie. She told me briefly about her postpartum blues which made me wonder if I'll be ready for number two! Moms like Callie will find Lilaguide dot com a useful stop to find information and resource on baby shops, products, reviews, services and shopping guides. With 32,000 listings and more than 120,000 reviews from real parents, it is a good place to chat with new moms, those who have been there and done that and contribute reviews to help others with buying decisions on baby products. So moms, drop by the site and check it out!

what's in Amsterdam?



Someone told me that if I want to visit Van Gogh art collection, I should make a trip to Amsterdam. Oh yes, I'm a fan of Van Gogh paintings and art pieces. I took the time to find out more about Amsterdam this morning. A quick look at the photos tells me that this is a city known for its museums. As a matter of fact, there are more than fifty museums that attract millions of visitors year after year. Visitors love Amsterdam's temperate weather and the artistic architectural beauty in the country.

When you travel to Amsterdam, find good hotel deals is easy on the web. Amsterdam is a busy tourist destination and the hotels in Amsterdam come in all sorts - from luxury landmark hotels to cozy boutique hotels overlooking the canal. As for those traveling with children, you may prefer self-catering apartments or bed and breakfast. Those on budget may look for cheap hotels and hostels. Generally, most people will choose based on price and location after comparing with several hotel booking sites in the web. One of the hotel accommodation sites I often turn to is hotelclub dot net. Being one of the largest online booking sites, you can find a wide choice of hotel accommodation for your travel needs.

I'm not sure if we'll make it to Amsterdam in the near future but if we do, a visit to Van Gogh museum will be in my list!

when it's time to call on a website optimization firm

Search engine spiders are actually very easy to please, much easier than actual human beings, said my internet marketing friend. According to him, search engine spiders aren't subjective and they don't care what the subject is about; they just care about the number keywords and keyword phrases.

The only way you can possibly displease a search engine spider is by overusing a keyword/keyword phrase and making your site smell like spam. Search engine spiders are now more advanced than ever, and so they are better able to ignore sites that are full of spam. Too many keywords or keyword phrases that are blatantly there will hinder your site from being crawled by spiders. So if you are involved in a business and has a website, you may want to consider appointing a website optimization firm to help you with this. A website optimization firm can assist in alot of ways including bringing more traffic to your site and increasing its popularity among search engines. More website traffic would mean more exposure of your products and services which can increase the conversion rates and up your profits.

so many credit cards these days!

Today, DH was stopped by a credit card salesperson at the gas station. This guy was trying to persuade him to sign up for a new credit card that can offer rebates on shopping purchases and free membership for life. These days, there are so many credit cards in the marketplace and it's hard to decide which one works for you. To me, they are almost the same except for the slight differences in membership privileges and service. If you are confused like me, you can check out credit card search engine where you can compare all sorts of credit cards including Airline Miles Credit Cards, business credit cards, gas credit cards and more. After finding and comparing the cards, you can decide what is best for you and apply it online instantly. Talking about convenience!

26 October, 2007

blog marketing is easy

If you are considering having both a blog and a website that will work if you have enough information to cover in both. Linking them both together is a great idea if you do decide to have both. You can always use the website to hold your main information and products, and the blog to promote them and discuss any issues regularly.

Wondering about hosting? If you have a website, you can either host your blog on the same server you use for your site, or you can leave it where it is. The choice is ultimately up to you, either way you can have successful blogs that will begin to bring in revenue to you. But these days, web hosting is affordable and convenient. Most importantly, it gives you better control of your website. Getting links to your blog is a good way to gain new readers. Another great tool you can use is the RSS feeds. When you use the RSS feeds, it allows people to publish your blog on their site, and in return it gets you more visitors.

Blog marketing can be pretty effective if it is done right. However, you cant just set up a blog and expect people to find it. Get your blog out there and make it known to others just as you would a website. Exchanging links with others will help, so will article marketing using your blog.

have you heard of a virtual assistant?

If you tell the business people that they can get help now for their business and personal chores by engaging a 'Virtual Assistant ', they may stare at you in disbelief. Last year, I have never heard of virtual assistant until DH introduces the concept to me.

Whether you are a small business or a corporation, the question arises, should you hire a virtual assistant? You know that there are a large number of tasks that need to be done during the day, some which seem impossible to do. However, you know that this is a large leap into a new way of functioning for your business. If you are determining the best business moves, you may want to evaluate your reasons for getting involved with the extra helping hands.

The major reason why anyone would hire a virtual assistant is because there is too much work that is taking away from things that they would be doing. The best way to evaluate on whether you need a virtual assistant or not, are to see what you are doing all day. If you are spending time on administrative correspondence and not your vision, then a virtual assistant may be a good answer. This is especially important if you have noticed that your business is beginning to grow or expand.

Image Asset Management workshop ended

I've been incredibly busy these two days! But it was great to enjoy myself while keeping busy with the Image Asset Management workshop with Jill Lowe. This is the first time we are conducting this seminar in KL and though we only had ten participants, the dynamics were fantastic! Jill did a hands-on demo on every single woman in the room, teaching, guiding and helping us with dressing strategies in our work and personal life. The lessons taught were an eye-opener for most of us and I was glad to see happy faces, transformed individuals in these two days - amazing! I took so many photos that the digital camera battery went flat and the memory card was full! I can't wait to sort out the photos, to show you guys how interesting the workshop had been.

25 October, 2007

website for people with bad credit

Not all of us are good with numbers or managing finances. Sometimes people can make mistakes in business, overspending on personal indulgences, over commit in loans , house and other obligations and as a result of that, end up with bad credit history. Now, anyone with bad credit knows that it can be hard getting any loan or applying for a credit card. It's interesting to know that there is a website that specializes in bad credit offers for people who are in this category. Like to know more? Check out the link above.

Data Recovery New York to the rescue!

How frustrating it is to experience technical errors on your computer and laptop when you are in the midst of work or doing something. This is especially so if you are a heavy user on the PC all day. These days, it can even easier to lose data in the computer due to any technical faults, human error, incompatible software in the system, virus attack, bugs...etc. Personally, I had experienced the loss of data when my previous iBook experienced a system clash. The technical didn't know what happened and instead of recovering my lost data, he reformatted my entire hard disk! I guessed that was the easy way out for him!

It's good to know that a Data Recovery New York called DataHotline specializes in recovering loss of data for Hard Drive, Server Storage, CD-Rom, Floppy Disk, Zip Disk, Digital Camera, PDA and even Cellular Phone. Isn't it great? Besides, the company also gives priority to Raid Data Recovery Service. All you need to do is to send your device or equipment to these experts and let them conduct a thorough evaluation. And if you are pleased with the reports and quotes, DataHotline will proceed to recover your lost data right away!

23 October, 2007

when it's time for car transports

I'm one person who doesn't like to move house, so does DH. But we know that when the time comes for us to move to down under, we need to do lots of planning to make this move a smooth one. Whenever we heard of friends moving and having to spend days, if not weeks, on packing, we would empathize with them.

Sometimes, it's even tougher if you need to move the family to another state or country. Imagine the enormous tasks of selling the house, packing up, settling the children, arranging for car transports, renting a house in the new city...etc. Few years ago, friend of mine moved to another state and insisted that her car be taken with her too. She spent weeks finding the right moving company handling car transports as there wasn't any specialized company for automobile transport then. When doing a research on auto transports, always ensure the reliability of the transport company. Experience drivers and quality service, together with good rates are other things to look out for.

Relocation is indeed a stressful event that is avoided by many especially those with families and kids. But if you are have to move to take up a new job or appointment, I suppose you haven't had much choice, do you?

any handbag lover out there?



Any handbag lover out there? If yes, we have something in common! My hubby cannot understand why we women need so many bags. I often tell him that we need a different one for different outfit and different occasion! Plus, women tend to buy handbags of various colours besides having a classic black and versatile brown.

I was just browsing through the handbags collection at Shopping dot com. The variety is impressive. You can find Marc by Marc Jacobs (my favourite!), fossil, liz claiborne, guess, lucky, coach and more! In other words, there is something for every woman here, whether you are looking for a casual bag or an outdoor one. A tote or hobo for the weekend or a clutch purse for an evening function. If you are unsure of the product or online merchant, take some time to read the reviews and compare the prices. With some many choices on the site, it saves you lots of time checking multiple webstores. I found this handmade Pietrini bag from Tuscan... isn't that stylish?

block those pop-ups!

Those of us who use the internet alot may be annoyed with those pop-ups that appear in some sites. Sometimes, I can't even close the window of the pop-ups and those flickering images are distracting and disturbing. There are some others which contain adult images which may be inappropriate for minors. DH is suggesting that I install a popup blocker to eliminate to problem. As the name suggests, the software blocks any pop-up which helps to minimize these frustrations. Check out the link if this is your concern too.

simplistic elegance about Asian decor



In my free time, I love to flip through home and decor magazines and check out new architectural and decorating themes. There are very few themes for decorating a home that capture the imagination quite like an Asian inspired theme. The use of rich colors, fabrics, and textures are the hallmark of these themes.

There is a simplistic elegance about Asian decor that is almost impossible to imitate in other methods. It is simply put, stunning to walk into a room or a home that has been decorated in an Asian inspired motif. What's even nicer is a home design I spotted in an interiors publication where the focus is on the post & beam frames in the home interiors. The timber frames give an elegant cum cosy feel to the house, and the colour of the wood further adds warmth and style. I have seen these frames being used in vacation homes and churches and they are undeniably gorgeous! When it comes to our new house next time, I'll definitely give a thought on using these hardy timber frames.

shopping for Christmas gifts

It's amazing how the internet has allowed us to communicate with overseas friends and relatives at no cost these days. Yesterday, we were chatting with our cousin from LA on skype and it was even nice to see each other on the webcam. I could see that their favourite Penn State football show was on and little Jonathan was busy with his train track. I know Clayton will be kept very busy with Jonathan's toys this Christmas while I can sit back and chat with the rest. I'm still cracking my head over their Christmas gifts, it's hard to guess what they need when I haven't seen them for a while. Guess it's time to shop for some resources on the web again!

costa rica, anyone?

I have read in a travel magazine that if you are a traveler who love the unspoiled beauty of nature, then you must make a trip to Costa Rica. In fact, much of the country is designated as a national park area and visitors on guided tours can experience the unspoiled and pristine natural beauty the country has to offer.

A Costa Rica Travel begins in San Jose, the largest city in Costa Rica. Heredia Highlands is the perfect spot to view the huge Poas Volcano and its nearly one mile wide steaming crater, the largest volcanic crater in the world. The outdoor traveler will not miss a trip to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens with five waterfalls, an aviary and a butterfly garden.

If you are planning on a Costa Rica vacation, check out this Costa Rica Directory for your resources, important information, activities, Costa Rica hotel, real estate and more. This is a one-stop place to find out more and explore on this beautiful country.

Clayton's new bicycle

All this while, Clayton has never had a 'good' bicycle. DH bought him a cheap one that could hardly move when peddled as the bicycle was too light. Since he's so against buying Clayton a good one, I thought I would wait to get him a sturdy one later. But my close friend, Yarris, and her hubby from Singapore bought Clayton a nice-looking bicycle and you can imagine how delighted he was! His legs are long enough to ride the bike but would be better in a few months' time. Now, the bike is parked in my mom's house till DH brings it home in his car.

(I can't publish the photos - blogger is down again !)

22 October, 2007

yummy japanese food at Sushi Zanmai

Calling all fans of Sushi Tei in Singapore, you can now enjoy the yummy sushi, sashimi, hand rolls and bentos at Sushi Zanmai at The Gardens, Mid Valley City. While searching for a lunch venue last weekend, we stopped by to check out the menu at the entrance. Being a regular patron of Sushi Tei, I noticed that the menu looked similar. After a quick confirmation with the staff, I found out that I was right and we grabbed a table right away.



We were amazed that the prices in the menu were so reasonable. It was almost dollar to dollar with Singapore. In other words, in Singapore, I would pay $16 for an Unagi bento and in KL, the same dish is RM16! Wow! What savings :) DH ordered an appetizer to try. It was his treat that day. This cuttlefish wasabi didn't look that appetizing but it tasted ok, a bit slimy though. I still like my sukiyaki set... the raw beef was served separately so you cooked it when you were ready. I thought that was nice. That way, the beef won't be overcooked in the broth.



The sushi selection was nice too but we only tried the avocado roll. Before I could snap a photo of it, DH had already helped himself with sushi :( So next time, when you are at the Gardens and are craving for affordable and yummy Japanese food, check out Sushi Zanmai.

chat live and see an increase in sales

Lately, I'm noticing that more and more online shopping sites are including a live chat feature on their sites. Personally, I think this is an amazing idea. It not only adds confidence but provides good service and support to existing and potential customers. I had benefited from support chat when I was facing problems with my hosting account few months ago. In just a few minutes, I was able to get my queries answered and problems solved. Even the hospitality industry is catching this LIVE chat fever. I had chatted with hotel's live support to find out more about their accommodation and features, which was better than waiting for a reply email, especially when my request was urgent. As a result of the great live support service, I booked a couple of nights with the hotel during our New Zealand trip.

If you are shopping for a live chat software for your website or online store, check out LiveHuman which is offering a low fee of $13 a month (yearly contract). For a small investment each month, you can see an increase in sales and traffic to your online store if you take time to maintain it well. After all, what customers want is good service, reliable and quality delivery. Including a live chat feature adds confidence to the customers, especially those who are new to online shopping. Not sure still? Why don't start with a 7-day trial?

something to ponder on

It's frustrating. I've been experiencing downtime for my health blog since this afternoon. Also, I don't even know why the line is been unstable throughout the day. It's like a day full of hiccups and little depressing moments but a look at my little boy's face can dissolve these frustrations away. Clayton has taught me to see things in the positive light when I'm feeling blue. Just imagine... you and I used to smile in split moments when bad things happened when we were kids but things are different now as we progress in our lives... something to ponder on.

hair loss problem, anyone?

Sometimes I still get stares from onlookers when I'm out with DH. I don't think they are looking at me but his baldness. Like alot of men who have had hair loss problems, DH used to try out many hair loss treatments but to no avail. Worst still, he had to bear with the stinking herbs on his head which he abhorred.

Take a look around and you notice that hair loss problems are on the rise, whether it's caused by genetics, one's diet or lifestyle. It is interesting to hear that there is a hair transplant in south florida who does things a little differently from other hair loss treatment centres. Dr Shapiro believes in consulting one on one with his clients to provide a personal and accurate analysis. While explaining the hair transplant surgery, you can even request to witness an actual surgical procedure or speak to his patients to gain a better understanding of the process. I haven't actually come across this unique style of marketing but personally, I believe providing accurate information to clients will increase the credibility of the clinic.

21 October, 2007

here's another internet marketing blog

All of us have some blogs we will visiting on a regular basis to keep us updated on topics of our interests, whether it's updates and news of shopping, technology, gadgets, travel, recreation, sports, health or internet marketing. Lately, I have been so swamped with work that I hardly blog walk like I used to. But today, I had the pleasure of discovering an internet marketing blog which focuses on internet marketing news, tips and information. As always, I like to find out the author/s of the blog before reading on.



Allinanchor.com is maintained by the team of internet marketing experts at Active Internet Marketing whose services include online marketing campaigns, total web solutions, SEO and much more. The articles in the blog are geared towards interesting highlights on what's in and around the web which includes but is not limited to internet marketing and SEO. You can read articles on brand management, technology and marketing, which are written in a practical and opinionated light. This is not a blog that lists down the dos and don'ts or long list of tips and guides in internet marketing. In fact, the blog is calling for contributors who have a pool of knowledge to share in internet marketing. But don't worry, you will be paid if your articles are content rich and satisfy the requirements.

So how about taking some time to check out allinanchor.dot.com? If you have a topic to suggest in this internet marketing blog, feel free to drop them a comment. For me, I would love to read some testimonials and experiences of those who have made it or broke it in their internet marketing journey.

how about pigeon forge for your next vacation?



I have heard so much about how pleasant and relaxing a family getaway at Pigeon Forge vacation rentals can be which makes me wanna plan a trip someday. Imagine waking to the views of mountains and the calmness of forest greens. Listen to the sounds of singing birds and have breakfast at your private balcony. Well, these are things you can look forward to in a Pigeon Forge vacation. I believe it'll be great fun for families, honeymooners, big groups and the outdoor lovers. It's great to know that there are so many lovely cabins to choose from with prices that are affordable. So if you need any travel destination ideas for your upcoming break, take a look at Pigeon Forge.

20 October, 2007

what bedroom furniture do you like?

Hmmm... which woman wouldn't want a nice looking bedroom with her favourite contemporary bedroom furniture in the style of her desire?

When we moved into our second hand link house, I wasn't too happy about our bedroom furniture especially the built-in wardrobe. I wanted a walk in wardrobe or a modern sleek finish one with sliding doors. But the existing one was of a light mauve pink that was just not my colour. We had a big argument on that and due to budget constraint, we left the wardrobe as it was.

To make myself happy or rather, to 'upgrade' the look of the wardrobe, I changed all the door knobs to contemporary, matte silver ones which transformed the dull looking wardrobe to a chic one. Instead of spending a big sum of money on a new wardrobe, the new knobs only cost me a fraction of it. This incident has indeed taught me to be creative and versatile. But I would love one of these nice bedroom furniture when we move to a new house next time...



have you heard of colon cleanse?

If you are into health matters, you may have heard of colon cleanse. Colon cleanses are mostly used to remove unwanted toxins from the body, but they can also be used in weight loss. That is why it is sometimes possible to find colon cleanses being referred to as weight loss cleanses.

If you have never tried a colon cleanse before, namely to lose weight, you may be wondering what you should look for in a colon cleanse. If that is the case, you will want to continue reading on.

Perhaps, the most important factor to take into consideration, when looking to buy a colon cleanse or a weight loss cleanse, is safety. It is important that you find a colon cleanse that is safe to use. Colon cleanses and weight loss cleanses are made and sold by a number of different manufacturers and distributors. While many colon and weight loss cleanses do work, you will find that not all do. In fact, there are even some colon cleanses which can put your health at risk. That is why it is important that you review each colon or weight loss cleanse that you are interested in buying.

I want a set of bose speakers?



If you are a big fan of music and quality sound, then I'm sure you'll love to have a set of Bose speakers, don't you? We passed by an AV shop this afternoon and was so impressed with the latest Bose speakers which were sleek, stylish and revolutionary. As with most high quality digital and electronic products, we knew these didn't come cheap. But seriously, if we move into our new place in years to come, I must convince DH to get a set of these awesome speakers for our family room. It's such a great companion for home theaters.

compare rates with last minute accommodation sites

I'm a great believer of online hotel booking. These days, planning a vacation is convenient and made easier with most travel sites going online. Unlike those days, you need to go through the travel agent and accept whatever was presented before you. Now, you can pick and choose from the vast of travel resources out there in the web.



A friend of mine was visiting London couple of months ago and was asking me about which sites to go to for London accommodation. I pointed her to a few reliable ones that were known for good hotel deals and quality service. In fact, I always like to check my hotel rates with a span of online hotel booking sites, including the last minute accommodation sites for our vacation. Do you know that last minute accommodation sites like ratestogo dot com provide attractive deals if you are booking close to your travel dates? If this is the first time you are hearing about them, do check out the site and their cheap hotel deals. I booked a few of our accommodations from ratestogo dot com during our first New Zealand trip in 2004.

Remember to bookmark it for your next vacation.

exercise on the rebounder

I can bet many people don't have a regular exercise routine. When I say 'regular', I mean doing it consistently on a weekly basis, not one every two weeks or once a blue moon. My DH is one discipline guy who exercises every morning without fail - rain or shine. He usually starts with a 15 minutes on the rebounder, as seen on tv. I cannot tell you how easy it is to exercise with a rebounder. And all you need is 10 - 20 minutes a day and you are doing your heart and waist a great favour. Do you know that this is easier on the knees compared to jogging?

silk trees that look real



Not many people who having real plants and flowers in the home for good reasons. They may be allergic to flower pollens or may not have the time for regular care and maintenance. One of the best ways is to get these silk trees who look as good as real, only without the need for watering and fertilizing. In other words, it save you time and money :) They are nice decorating plants for homes, special occasions, gifts and even in offices. Besides, they are almost maintenance free!

my brenda cheah's semi precious stone necklace



Okie dokie... these are some photos of my new splurge at Isetan today. Brenda Cheah is a talented and creative Singaporean designer who uses semi-precious stones for her exclusive jewelry. What I like about her jewelry is versatility. You can wear it many ways with different outfit. I just found out that the collection sold here is cheaper than Singapore. The difference lies in the material used for the necklace. She uses semi precious beads for the Singapore collection but in Malaysia, leather and silk ribbon are used. Personally, I'll go for the leather or ribbon ones over the beaded necklace for the big difference in price! It's almost dollar to dollar so why not? In Malaysia, her jewelry is sold exclusively in Isetan stores and in Singapore, in Takashimaya.





I went to The Gardens!

Sometimes men don't understand that it's the little things that make women happy :) DH came to me and suggested that we visit the new mall in town - The Gardens. Oh well, I have heard much about it and so when he said that, I was overjoyed! I got myself ready and we were all set to go there for lunch.

As usual, I couldn't do much shopping cos I was out with a non-shopper guy and an active/restless toddler but it was nice to check the place out for future visits! We had lunch in Sushi Zanmai, a similar management as Sushi Tei in Singapore and proceeded to check out the shops. The Gardens is designed with a more upmarket crowd in mind and you can tell it from the interiors, use of materials, colours, style and retail stores. There are some of my favourites - Marc by Marc Jacobs, Mossimo Duti, Brenda Cheah semi precious jewelry in Isetan and other new ones. I couldn't resist Brenda's works and was glad to see that the prices were half of Singapore's. So after trying out a few, I still settled for a yellow jade one which I had been considering for a while.

I'll be posting few pictures soon!

i wanna go las vegas!

Now that I can't fulfill my desire to visit Las Vegas, I'm hoping to squeeze a short getaway during the week in LA. It will be great to witness the bout of changes in the city of Las Vegas, checking out the new hotels and malls and stay a couple of nights at Imperial Palace Las Vegas. I suppose it's hard to convince someone who doesn't enjoy long distance driving to take a a 5-hours trip... or maybe he may still change his mind about that... I'm still hoping!

19 October, 2007

check out these creative greeting cards

I cannot shake off the designer vibes in me. Whenever I see attractive and creative greeting cards and stationery, I'll buy and keep them. There are heap of nice greeting cards online store like beeyondpaper dot com but many of them do not ship the cards outside the US :( I can spend hours browsing through every category and card and not get tired of it. I always end up with a stack of cards and nice stationery whenever I travel. They can be artistic wrappers, cards, promotional pens, note books or paper craft, I just love collecting them! Here are some nice ones from beeyondpaper dot com:








God gave me a miracle!

You know, I've been praying for a miracle the last few days. My Image Asset Management Workshop is happening next Wednesday and Thursday yet I had only six participants as of yesterday morning. I was down and desperate and was on the brink of cancelling the event. I told the hotel to give me till 3pm to confirm my decision and was still believing that my miracle would come. At 2plus, the phone rang and the HR dept of a MNC sent me an email to register four participants. I was overjoyed! God heard my prayer and I had my miracle!

I was so happy that I called my speaker to let her know that situation and she was gracious to agree to the workshop. Usually, she would travel only at 15 - 20 pax so this is an exception! I am so thankful and still believing that we'll have at least 12 sign ups by Monday... I still have Monday!

All Glory be to God!

the ingredient of passion

I always believe that in whatever you do, the ingredient of passion makes a world of difference to your experience. For me, I love traveling so when it comes to planning for a trip, I'll be enthusiastic in doing my travel research and working on the itinerary. As for DH, he's passionate about trading options so he'll dedicate some time in the morning to practice his options trading skills - everyday! I admire him for his commitment and in fact, he is currently in a Options Trading Challenge, organized by Freely. For once, he's sleeping only at 4am as the trading challenge starts at 9pm and ends at 4am. One thing for sure - he won't do if he hasn't got the passion. It says it all :)

the beauty of teak garden furniture

Since we are on the topic of furniture, let's take a look at teak garden furniture. Basically, teak garden furniture is made from the teak tree found in the tropical region of Javanese. Manufacturers of these teak outdoor garden furniture purchase their teakwood from farming companies that practice environmental harvesting. The cut trees are replace by newly planted trees, so that the chance of teak trees becoming obsolete will not be a reality of the future. The teak trees will be growing for generations to come.



So why do people choose teak benches or teak tables for their gardens or their homes? It all lies in the beautiful, bright golden color that will hold its beauty over time.

Teak garden furniture requires very little cleaning to maintain its beauty. The strength and durability of the furniture will withstand the weather extremely well. The natural oils in the wood help preserve its natural beauty and no additional oils are needed. The designs found at Teakwood Patio Furniture are simple and elegant. Yet it is made to be strong and sturdy which will last for many generations.

18 October, 2007

treasure every moment with your child

My little boy is keeping himself busy with his toy train set and new magnetic puzzle as we occupy ourselves with work in our home office. Sometimes I feel guilty about leaving him alone to play by himself but there's really no choice cos mommy got to work. Kids grow so fast and in no time, he'll be buying his own college football tickets and hanging out with his teenage friends. For now, I'll treasure every moment I have with him before time passes us by...

resources on stunning fashion jewelry



As usual, I am surfing the web for more resources on fashion jewelry websites and shopping portals. The thing is the internet is a real cool place to get updated fashion news at the lowest cost. Along the way, I tend to end up with some online purchases from these new found sites. Otherwise, they are definitely better than buying fashion magazines in the news stand. I found another great shopping site for handcrafted jewelry. Apparently, you can even start a home based business selling these stunning jewelry pieces. Anyone keen on that, click on the above link for more information. For more, here are some lovely handcrafted jewelry samples:



truck accident lawyer helps family

Following from my previous post on Truck Accident Lawyers California, I just read a touching testimonial of a family who had received legal assistance from a Truck Accident Lawyer who filed a lawsuit on their behalf for the wrongful death of their beloved son. From the letter, I could gather that the importance of finding the right attorney to handle such sensitive cases due to the many complexities involved.

I believe many families have suffered in silence when a loved one is met with a truck accident. Sometimes the grief can be so great that the family members are too loss to seek help to litigate their case. We can't stop truck accidents from taking place but we can stand up to the matter so that these people who are responsible for the accidents be exposed. They could be causing more casualties on the road if left to continue in their wrongful acts. Truck accidents are commonly caused by poor maintenance of the vehicle, driver's carelessness, speeding, supervision negligence and other vehicle flaws.

17 October, 2007

highlight on Truck Accident Attorneys Los Angeles

It disturbs me whenever I see heavy trucks speeding on the roads. In all honesty, I'm not concerned about the truck drivers but the other motorists on the road. Sometimes, I think a heavier penalty should be imposed on these irresponsible drivers who drive at high speeds without sparing a thought for others. It is dangerous and hazardous. There have been so many truck accidents on the road yet these truck drivers are oblivious at the fatalities.

I believe the team of Truck Accident Attorneys Los Angeles must have seen and handled enough truck accident cases to tell us that most of these accidents are caused by carelessness and negligence of the driver. These attorneys are experienced in seeking compensation for their clients from wrongful injuries and deaths against errant truck drivers and their companies. Apart from this, the company also has a team of Plane Crash Attorneys Los Angeles to assist victims who suffered from aviation accidents.

Clayton's birthday celebration

Not sure if this is a tradition among children in nursery but Clayton has been receiving birthday favours from his classmates. As a result of that, I was obligated to prepare birthday favours for his classmates in school too. I didn't think it was nice to prepare junk food or candy favors so I got each of them a colourful notepad. Clayton celebrated his birthday in class with his teacher (video coming up) and I was surprised that daddy bought him a train set from Pasar malam!







don't forget about the groomsmen

It's been a long time since I last attended a wedding. At my age, most of friends are either married or are parents to one or more kids. But in the next few months, I will be invited to three weddings! Usually, the bride takes centrestage in a wedding ceremony with more detailed preparation compared to the groom. And most people will agree that most of the expenses will be used on the bride's gown and her accessories other than the venue and dinner celebration. Sometimes, every focus is placed on the bride and her bridesmaid that the groomsmen gift can be overlooked. Perhaps a pair of nice cuff links can make a great gift idea for the groomsmen or otherwise, a nice tie may do the job.

do you wanna be a voice over talent?

Some people are blessed with good voices while others find it hard to even hum a tune. And if you have good voices or should I say, can express yourself by using different tonal values, you may like to consider a voice over talent job. Having said that, this is not an easy task unless you have the passion and talent for the task. But if you do have it, voice over talents are high in demand with advertising and production houses. A good voice over talent can make you laugh, cry and induce excitement or curiosity. Besides, you may be able to speak clearly since your voice is the main communication medium. It can convert a sale, increase interest and lure someone to take action - it's that powerful! If you are looking for a professional and affordable voice over talent, check out the website of doncapone dot com. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, listen to the voice demos of Don Capone and everything else will be self-explanatory.

Welcome Home - a one-stop UK home buying guide

Finding a home of your dream can be a daunting task especially if you don't have a good source of reference. When my ex-student got married to the man of her dreams, she had to move to London to start a new life as he was an eye surgeon in a local hospital in the UK. According to her, property prices in UK are exorbitant and it takes time to find the right house for the price to suit your budget. Those who are planning to settle in UK should check out Welcome Home, a one-stop resource site which features properties in most parts of UK, real estate agents, detailed information of flats and houses plus interactive maps and valuable reviews.

In other words, you can be looking for properties in Cardiff or flats in Liverpool, the smart search features at Welcome Home brings you to a review of the area, allows you to enter your budget and preferences and brings you to the potential listings. Whether you are planning to looking for flats to buy in Glasgow or houses to rent in Kent, the site presents all the necessary information to help you find the perfect house. I find the "News and Guides" very useful for those who want to keep themselves abreast of property news in the UK area. If you prefer, you can request to be contacted by a real estate agent who can help to address your specific needs in locating a property.

Check out the list of guides to help you make careful selection in your house hunting process - great for all home buyers - first timer or experienced.

request for free beauty samples

Have you heard of free beauty samples before? If you have, have you been requesting them whenever you come across free sample offers? I had :) If you haven't, you may want to think about doing so, as there are a number of benefits to requesting free beauty samples.

One of the many benefits of requesting free beauty samples is that they are free (LOL). Many times, you don't even have to pay for the cost of shipping. When you look at it that way, what do you have to lose by requesting free beauty samples? In the past one month, I have been receiving free samples of mineral makeup and it's been a wonderful experience for me testing out which one works for me and which ones are not suitable.

Requesting for free samples helps to avoid making wrong decisions on your purchases. In other words, it saves you money in the long run.

still hunting skincare for my pigmented skin

I'm continuing my search for treatment products for my pigmented skin again. In the last ten years, I have spent a substantial amount of money on 'revolutionary' products that claimed to arrest pigmentation and brown spots but unfortunately, the results delivered just led to continue my research. Whatever new products that were highlighted in the media news, I would check them out and if they were 'safe' for the skin, I'd give them a go.

Two months ago, I spent another few hundred buying two products that promised to lighten the pigmented areas and offer luminosity. Sadly, I might have to stop soon. In the skincare marketplace, there are some very expensive labels that have launched their range of whitening products. The one that I have been thinking about trying is the exorbitant La Mer but without sufficient positive reviews, I am hesitant to part with my money.



This is the second time I have heard about ORIKI Cosmeceuticals, who specializes on skincare for Asian, Mediterranean and other Olive (AMO) skin types. A check on their product range and prices stirs within me the desire to give the whitening products a go. Since they are formulated with AMO skin in mind, the ingredients are geared to help with anyone with the skin tone base. What I probably like to do is to see if I can get some samples to try it on first before deciding on which products can help with my pigmented skin. Maybe you would like to check it out first if you share the same predicament as me.

rose colour and its meaning



The color of a rose can certainly be interpreted than the thought you intended. To ensure that your love (or friend) understands what the roses you are sending mean, follow the guide below so you can be sure of no misinterpreted gestures.

Orange - enthusiasm, desire and fascination

Lavender - love at first sight

Coral - desire

Pale Peach - modesty

Peach - appreciation, closing of the deal, lets get together, sincerity

Red and Yellow - jovial and happy feelings

Red and White - given together these signify unity

Yellow with Red Tip - friendship, falling in love

Yellow - Joy, gladness, friendship, delight, promise of a new beginning, welcome back, remember me, jealousy

Light Pink - admiration, sympathy, gentleness, grace, gladness, joy, sweetness

Dark Pink - appreciation, gratitude, thank-you

Pink - appreciation, thank-you, grace, perfect happiness, admiration, gentleness, please believe me

White (Bridal) - happy love

White - purity, innocence, silence, secrecy, reverance,humilty, youthfulness, I am worthy of you, Heavenly

Deep Burgundy - unconscious beauty

Red (single) - I love you

Red Dark - unconscious beauty

Red - love, beauty, courage and respect, romantic love, congratulations, I love you, job well done, sincere love, respect, courage and passion

Single in any Color - simplicity, gratitude

Red Rosebud - symbolic of purity and loveliness

White Rosebud - symbolic of girlhood

Thornless Rose - love at first sight

when I got my no medical exam life insurance

I must admit that I used to be one of those who shunned insurance agents for the fear that they would pressurize me to buy a policy. It was hard for me to understand why I needed a life insurance policy at that time. You can't blame me as I was only in my early 20s then and it was hard to part 10% of my salary to paying insurance. I wanted all for my own pleasures and indulgences!

But things changed as I grew older and I understood the need for a no medical exam life insurance policy. Finally, I bought mine and even purchased one for my mom. It was tough convincing her to get one too! It took me some time to convince her on why she needed a Senior Life insurance at that time. Looking back, I wished I had bought my policy earlier since it would be 'cheaper' and the cash value would be higher too. Anyways, I'm still glad I made the decision to get mine... what about you?

16 October, 2007

your personal injury attorney resource

Generally, Asians are less vocal compared to people in the west, so much so that even when it comes to taking legal action. I have read about countless incidents where victims of accidents are left to nurse their wounds and undertake their own treatment costs when the faults do not lie on them. Instead of suffering in silence, the victim should appoint an experienced personal injury attorney for legal advice and assistance. In any case, the victim can check out An Attorney For You to search for the right personal injury attorney. This is a one stop place to submit your case to various legal firms where you can make a personal comparison before appointing the right lawyer. You may also like to check out the glossary of legal firms and advisors for specific concerns.

how do you spell 'mortgage calculator'?

I thought this is a smart strategy by Mortgage Calculator and Rates who designed a page specifically to cater to those who misspelled the term 'Mortgage Calculator'. It happens to all of us sometimes - we enter a word in the search engine and receive weird results, only to find out that you have entered a wrong search keyword.

Take for example, many people have spelled it as Morgage Calculator or Mortgage Calclater and these incorrect spellings will land them to undesired results. With this in mind, mortgagecalculatorsandrates dot com has done something very clever to reach its target customers. In other words, whether you enter morgage calaculator or mortgage calclater, you will still get to the correct website. While this effort is not made to make fun of those who misspelled the term but to 'alert' search engines to redirect the wrongly spelled words to the website. In this manner, those who are searching for Mortgage Payment Calculator will have their objectives met too.

Happy Birthday, son



Three years ago, this boy came and my life was changed completely! Today, Clayton turns three - how fast! As a mom, I see the growing phases of my boy and it warms my heart to see him developing to an active and adorable toddler. I am thankful for his wit, intelligence and sensitivity. He has brought much joy and cheer to our hearts... this is his first present from his Mandarin class teacher. Oh, we had given ours to him last week! No, we won't be having a big do, it's just not our style but he'll be having a little cake with his classmates this afternoon.

Happy Birthday, son.... more posts coming up to celebrate Clayton's third birthday!

swimming pool tile makes a difference

Most kids love to hang around in the swimming pools. I guess water by itself is therapeutic and even kids are subtly drawn to water attractions and water play! Sometimes, it's the swimming pool tile flooring that attract both adults and children alike. Usually, bright coloured mosaic tiles are used to create the 'oceanic' feel with some commercial properties having patterned ones to display creativity and uniqueness.

I have witnessed many old private condos with ugly swimming pools which need serious upgrading. Actually, what these pools need is to find an expert in swimming pool resurfacing to model and give it a new look. These days, the creation options to re-designing pools are without limits. By adding pebbles, new plastering or merely changing swimming tiles, the pools can obtain a new character and style with remodeling experts. My personal theory is that if you have a pool in the property, you should put in the effort to maintain it. Otherwise, it's better not to have it in the first place.

colloidal silver as an antibiotic

Colloidal silver’s reputation as an exceptional antibiotic and antiseptic is very impressive. It is said to treat just any form of diseases or illness: from viral induced conditions like leukemia, herpes, influenza, hepatitis, yeast infection to non viral diseases such as fatigue and arthritis. Yes, the use of colloidal silver to kill microorganisms is well established but some research has reminded users not to bet on it to defeat full blown infections and diseases. While it can eliminate most pathogens effectively than conventional antibiotics, other causes for the disease will have to treated by other medications.

So how does colloidal silver act as an antibiotic and antiseptic? What the solution does is simple; pathogens and just any other microorganisms that come in contact with the colloidal silver will suffocate. The colloidal silver will dissolve the oxygen metabolizing enzyme found in most primitive organisms, a process similar to an electrochemical reaction. That makes it effective to most known bacteria, unlike some antibiotics. What's good to know is that there are no toxic manifestations with colloidal silver, no irritations and no side effects so buy your first dose of colloidal silver and parasites will be the least of your worries.

15 October, 2007

clayton plays golf!

It's amazing how fast children learns things and how their little minds absorb information. Clayton has been watching Playhouse Disney and lately, there are snippets of recreation features showing children learning how to play golf and football. He has a stick at home that resembles a golf club so he would start hitting his golf balls at home. Daddy promises to buy a real one for him someday. Who knows, he may become a pro someday! Today is a day of family fun at the new Pavilion mall in town.. more reports coming up!

let's go shopping for women's boots!

Anyone into boots? I can't tell you how cool they look with the right outfit and believe it or not, boots project a classy appearance - elegant, stylish and bold! I got my first pair of RM Williams boots when I picked up horse riding and since then, I had four pairs added to my boots collection. Other than giving an attractive visual appeal, a good pair of boots are great to keep feet and legs warm during those cool winter days.



Women's boots come in various styles and designs to suit an outfit for different occasions - knee length, calf length and ankle length, and for the heels, you have stilettos, Cuban heels, block heels or high heel wedges. Do not assume that any kind of boots can look good with every outfit. Personally, I have found knee high boots to look great with skinny jeans, short skirts, shorts and even formal suits. Ankle length ones are usually better with jeans or pants but never with short dresses or skirts. These days, boots are no longer restricted to the black and brown even though these colours are 'safe' enough to be used with any outfit colours. Get bold with rich and vivid colours - pink, red, purple, green, blue and metallic.




Something like this pair of women's boots by Chinese Laundry is elegant and professional with skirts or suits (see above). For a more casual and chic look, this pair of brown MIA Candida women's boots below is stylish with a nice weekend dress, neat shorts or denim skirts. Made of genuine leather, the MIA Candida is a fantastic value at $42.99 at Overstock dot com, when compared to the retail price of $124.95! I love the floral details which give a feminine and trendy look. Overstock dot com has a gorgeous range of women's boots and shoes for all occasions - formal, casual, rugged, fun and party. And if you have a little extra money to splurge, don't give the Dolce and Gabbana and Prada designer boots a miss!



Didn't I tell you that Overstock dot com has all kinds of boots of any occasion? How about looking artistic and cute with On Your Feet Satra Women's Solid Print Rainboots? These ones stand out from the boring black and solid colour ones you see on the streets and the one inch heels offer the extra height to help you walk comfortably.


See, there are so many styles, designs and colours to choose from when it comes to women's boots and it all depends on your personal taste and the occasion you are dressed up for. To buy women's boots at the best and lowest prices, head down to Overstock dot com by clicking on the link in the post.

14 October, 2007

hey, take a break :)

It's one of those days when I don't feel like writing a long post and you feel like your head is too heavy to think too hard. I know some bloggers take breaks on Sundays while some take the opportunity to catch up with emails, comments moderation and update blogs. I guess it's the long weekend break that making me feel a little lazy and tired. Maybe this is Mother Nature saying 'hey, take a break'.

13 October, 2007

selamat hari raya

Selamat Hari Raya to all my Muslim friends!

It's the first day of Raya and I took the time to chill out in the mall, had a nice lunch at SOHO and spent my afternoon with Tracy and David before they head back to Ningbo tomorrow. Clayton had a great time with them, they are his close adult friends!

The mall was busy and it was a good time to walk around and grab a few audio racks for the home while checkikng out some home improvement items in DIY homefix shop. We were planning to go for a walk in Kepong reserve but there was a heavy downpour in the afternoon.

I'm looking forward to catch up with some detailed planning for our December vacation and hopefully prepare Clayton's birthday gifts for his classmates on Tuesday. My boy is turning three soon!

12 October, 2007

how i love those Christmas lights



This is the first time our family is spending Christmas out of the country and I'm so excited about it! I'm truly glad that I manage to convince DH to spend Christmas in LA with his cousins and brother. Clayton will have a great time with the kids while we adults chill out over the fireplace and enjoy our turkey dinners! How I miss those Christmas celebrations where I used to hang out with my buddies in town til wee hours of the morning - we were young then :)

Besides the gift giving, a time of love and sharing, I love the christmas lights and decorations that lit the hotels and town area. Sadly, I don't see much of those led christmas lights in KL city but in Hong Kong and Singapore, the Christmas decorations are worth watching. Like it or not, these christmas lights create a happy mood and add excitement to the season. Without them, the entire town will be dead, boring and life-less.

But amidst the celebrating, drinking, eating and gift giving, let's not forget that Jesus is the reason for the season.

live green, be green

live greener products

We've heard so much about being friendly to mother earth, save the environment, recycle campaigns, practice green living..etc. Sometimes the hype becomes too great that big brand fashion designers leverage on these principles and create products to bring more awareness to themselves.

But seriously, it's our responsibility to encourage green living in our lifestyle, to reduce the waste around us and save the earth! To do this, we should get into the habit of recycling and reusing paper bags and containers in the house and not dispose them after each use. For more ideas on how to follow green practices, you can start using environmental products for your household, garden, kitchen, garage and even buy eco-friendly gifts.



To begin, why not check out greenandmore dot com where you find tonnes of ideas on how you and your family can lead a 'green' lifestyle. How about a eco-friendly arm chair for your living room or a one of these beautiful ecor-friendly Fibonacci Pendant Lamps? The website has alot to offer in educating us on environmental issues such as creating a compost pile, air pollution, green transportation, recycling for businesses..etc. With strong philosophies on green living, greenandmore dot com seeks to spread their knowledge to more consumers like you and me. You can even read a green living tip everyday to learn how you can do you part in small and big ways to save Mother Earth. Otherwise, the blog is the place to learn and share more lessons on living a green lifestyle.



So hop over to greenandmore dot com and start reading about how you can begin living green in your daily experiences. Right now, to celebrate its opening, the website is offering a 10% off on your entire order with coupon code: GREEN10 (Expires 12/31/07)

11 October, 2007

don't feel guilty over a massage



What better way to end the day than a massage after a hard day's work? Some people regard massage therapy as a form of luxury but it's certainly more than that. Over the years, massage therapy has been found out to be a necessary element in obtaining general wellness. Previously, my hubby used to flash me with a look that made me feel guilty about booking myself to a relaxation therapy. But ever since I signed him up for a session on his birthday, his concept of massage therapy had changed for the good.

If you are that sort who have negative impression of massage and think that it's one of those activities attended by ladies of leisure who have nothing better to do in the day, then I hope that you will change your mind after reading this post.



There are more than 200 massage techniques available nowadays. But regardless of the technique used, all of these are intended to help in the healing process, management of pain, relief from stress, and improvement of circulation. I have tried many kinds of massage in the last ten years: swedish massage, aromatherapy massage, shiatsu, reflexology, sports massage, deep tissue massage and thai massage. Depending on my physical condition, I'll love a relaxation aromatherapy massage if I'm feeling all tired and stressed on my shoulders, neck and back. How I love those healing essential oils, they can simply revive, refresh and rejuvenate your mind and being. And if treatment is needed, I'll usually go for a Chinese therapeutic massage, which is known as 'Tui Na' in Mandarin. Coupled with acupuncture and cupping, this is a very effective form of treatment for injuries and specific ailments of the body.



Even when I was expecting Clayton, I was conscientious in pre-natal massage which could be the contributing cause of supple skin tone on my belly with no stretch marks during and after pregnancy. Contrary to what some women think, pre-natal massage is safe when conducted by an experienced and well trained massage therapist. It helps to provide relaxation and better sleep; reprieve on weight-bearing areas like ankles, joints, pelvis, and lower back; help in posture maintenance; prevention of swelling on feet and hands; lessening of cramps; and relief from nasal congestion.

Massage not only works to relieve us from life’s everyday stress. The traditional systems of health care all over the world have recognized the importance of therapeutic massage in the treatment of chronic illnesses. So the next time you decide to get a massage, stop feeling guilty about it. After all, the bodywork has enhanced your total wellbeing so what is there to be guilty about?



If any of you are keen to explore a massage therapy business or are interested in becoming a massage therapist or a massage geek, hop over to Massagegeeks dot com to learn more.

how many rings do you have?


Now I've just told you about the 4Cs of diamonds. So let's get ready to do some online shopping for some glittery stuff!


So, how many rings do you have? I have to confess that I have more rings than fingers put together, yet I'm still looking around for new styles to be added to my collection. Well, I have a dream ring and it's the Tiffany Lucida which cost a bomb! For now, I'm happy with a solitaire from Blue Nile or any fashionable white gold ones. Here's another place to compare and shop for your rings. At Shopping dot com, you can find Blue Nile, United diamonds, Mondera and a w-i-d-e selection of other rings in all sorts of styles and designs. Princess cut, round diamond, akoya pearl, semi-precious stones, white gold, sterling silver, platinum, engagement rings, wedding bands, eternity rings...etc.


What's nice is you can view many different ring designs and styles in one page and just for rings alone, there are fifty pages to browse through at shopping dot com. If it's too confusing, you can narrow your search by choosing the price range, jewelry material, brand, stone type or occasion. I don't know about you but I'm confused already with these thousands of options.

Go and see which one takes your fancy and put it in your wish list!

The 4Cs of diamonds

Hey ladies, this post is dedicated to you who adore diamonds and if you don't, it's still good knowledge here! Diamonds are graded based on these four criteria: color, cut, clarity and carat. So take a brief look at what they mean:

1) Color is the result of the composition of a diamond and it does not change. When a jeweler is describing the color of a diamond they are referring to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds.

2) The Cut is probably the most important of the Four C's. Let's see why.

Cut refers to a diamonds reflective quality. Most diamonds are cut with 58 facets. The brilliance of diamonds is heavily dependent on the cut. The different angles and the finish of a diamond determine its ability to reflect light and cause its brilliance and fire.

Remember that the cut of a diamond can have an impact on its durability as well as its beauty. Some cutting faults can make a diamond prone to breakage. A diamond that is cut too thin can also cause light to leak out of the back and the diamond will lose some of the sparkle.

3) During the formation process, inner flaws, or inclusions occur in most diamonds. The number and size of these inclusions determine what is referred to as the clarity of a diamond. Diamonds that are clear create more brilliance and therefore are rarer and highly priced. To be considered flawless, a diamond must have no surface or internal imperfections.

4) Carat is the unit of weight by which diamonds are measured.

When you go to the store to make a diamond purchase, do not be shy! Ask questions, get the answers you need to make an informed purchase. Shopping for certified diamonds enables you to make an informed selection. Knowing the four Cs allows you to shop, compare and purchase the best diamond at a fair price. But, before making a purchase, shop around and decide what shapes and styles really appeal to you.

my dream of a mobile business



I love the idea of having a mobile office. Being someone who loves freedom and space, I hope to fulfill my dream of working anywhere in the world some day. It looks like this can only happen with if I have an internet business or maybe there are options yet to be known to me. But for now, I'm still thankful that we can operate a business without being in a commercial office. No need to beat the morning traffic and waste time on traffic jam. If you live in an urban city, you will understand.

Now, it's even better with internet technology. With Internet fax services, you can send and receive a fax anywhere, anytime as long as you have a computer and an internet connection. For only 1,000 pages at $12.95 per month, you don't have to worry about busy lines, missing faxes, paper jammed and technical errors. Faxes can be received in PDF or TIFF formats in your PC, Mac or PDA. Sign up now and receive a month FREE at MetroFax with the above link.

1 billion to make teh tarik in space???



Vedis sent me her grievances about this space BS... for many months, DH and myself have been ranting about this issue. Spend 1 billion to make teh tarik in space... what a crap! Do you know how many lives can be saved from 1 billion? Why not use the money to build better schools, better roads, hospitals and help those who don't even have a roof over their heads? Vedis said it so well in her post - go read it!

Anyone shares similar grievances?

internet age parenting

When the media announced about the Singapore government's plans to build an integrated in Sentosa which included a casino in the plan, it sparked a controversy public debate. While the plan was intended to benefit the tourism of the country, others are concerned about the negative effects on the social end. Some parents were worried about the wrong influence it would cause on their children and young teens. But what about the TV programs and other media influence?

Parenting remains challenging whether or not there is a casino in the city. I believe it's the parents' responsibility to educate their children on what is acceptable and what is not. Parenting today requires openness and dedicated guidance, not a bunch of "dos" and "don'ts". Wouldn't it be worse if they rebel and do things contrary to what you have been teaching if they are not shown the reasons of things. In other words, if you spend time educating your children, you don't even have to spy on them or worry about them checking out online casino bluebook which shows the popular online casinos in the web. The free online guide is a resource stop for those who want to know more about the online gaming scene with full description included. Online gamers can check on the top ten sites to place their bets. I recalled my Las Vegas trip some years back where I was thrilled to win some cash on the jackpot. That was just recreation fun during the vacation.

While we can't stop our children from being exposed to media and social influence, all we can do is spend more time with them, encourage feedback and open communication and inculcate good values in them.

*Advertisement

10 October, 2007

when an aviation attorney is needed

Many years ago, there was a big story on the Silkair plane crash which led to the fatalies of many passengers. It was a tragic incident and sadly, my friend's neighbour was one of them. The victim was coming home from a vacation when the crash happened. It was hard for the family and close friends to accept this sudden loss of a loved one but only time could heal the pain and sad memories.

Though I believe the family may have sought an aviation attorney to handle the law suit against the airlines, it makes me wonder if any claim can comfort their loss. But it is good to know that there are aviation law firms who specialize in handling such aviation accidents including helicopter accidents, airplane fatalities and even charter accidents. Appointing an experienced attorney can mean greater success in your law suit which involves complexities in litigation and thorough investigation processes.

i prefer the free and easy way

In all my years of travel, I always prefer the free and easy style. I don't like waking up to a fixed schedule and spend my time waiting for other fellow travelers to show up. Not only is this a waste of my time, it's inflexible and boring. The truth is booking directly with the vacation property can be cheaper than a package holiday though it requires some homework on your part to organize this. For instance, if you are a UK resident who is planning to take a vacation to Florida, you can book with ThinkFlorida.co.uk instead of settling for a package holiday suggested by your travel agent. The website allows you to book your rental car, theme park tickets and vacation homes and condos in Disney region. Isn't it better to choose your own Villa in Orlando than letting someone else decide that for you and your family?

should I book with the Halekulani



I'm still contemplating if I should book a night at the Halekulani during our last night in Waikiki. After reading so many travel guides, all travel editors rave about the beauty, luxury and superb service in this exclusive hotel. Whenever I visit the official website, I'll be tempted to place my booking but I don't know if it's worth spending $500 for a night's stay - know what I mean? I know that if I ask DH about this, he'll throw the idea out of the window so I'm still considering secretly since I'm the organizer for this vacation... let me sleep over this for a few more weeks before coming to a decision.

should I buy my La Mer whitening essence?



I'm still contemplating if I should buy the La Mer Whitening Essence which costs a bomb! There is a lot of emphasis in today’s world to stay as young looking for as long as possible. There are many “miracle” products available to you that promise to keep you looking young and beautiful at any age. But how many of these products actually deliver what they promise? Many of us can truthfully answer to that, right?

The honest truth is that there is no miracle product that is going to keep you looking young forever. However, taking good care of your skin can keep you looking and feeling fresh and healthy no matter how old you are. So, should I buy the La Mer whitening product:P

anyone loves doing dishes?

Anyone loves doing dishes? I don't :P So there's a rule in our house. I do the cooking and DH does the washing. Fair? Not many women enjoy doing dishes - it spoils our nails, dries our hands, causes wrinkles..etc. Currently, we wouldn't need a dishwasher but when we move down under, I told DH that I would like to get one of those built-inWhirlpool Dishwashers for our house. A great place to search for household appliances like refrigerators, ovens, ranges, washers and dryers, and dishwashers is Krillion dot com. The unique thing with Krillion search features is that the results tally with the supply found in your local stores. This helps to avoid any disappointment when you have driven all the way to the store to find that the product is out of stock. Krillion saves you precious time and bringing you national brands sold by big box retailers.

discount products for your baby


Unlike those days, bringing up a child is getting tougher and more challenging. It is no wonder that birth rate in many countries has witnessed a declination as couples are complaining about the high costs of childcare. When Clayton was born, we had to stock up lots of babycare items - baby cot, sterilizer, bottles, diapers, skincare, diaper ointment, clothing, mittens, baby toys, pram....etc. And as he grew, new items had to be added month after month, this process seemed endless. Sounds familiar?

Woudn't it be great if you can buy discounts on products for your baby? While Supplies Last understands what it is to pay so much for baby stuff so what it does is that it alerts you with the best deals in the web for baby products. Everyday, you will see updated specials that are released from major online retailers in the web. In other words, you can shop and save with these special deals without wasting time on numerous websites. While Supplies Last brings you the best deals on all baby products, whether it's bedding, feeding items, diaper bags or early development toys. Why pay full price when you can save on your purchases?

Wordless Wednesday - treasure the moment



One of the things that I appreciate is Clayton's way of amusing me when I'm upset or moody. Everytime he flashes a smile at me, the comfort is indescribable. Sometimes, I'll be in a rage and all ready to give him a good spanking but his innocent plea for mercy will change my mind. Parenting is a bitter sweet experience. I often tell myself to treasure the moment because there is no way we can turn by time.

teaching good manners start from young

With a three year old in the house, we are beginning to be more conscious of our speech and behavior. Studies always remind us that we parents should set good examples for our children since they are constantly watching and growing. In their little minds, we are their heroes and thus, they look up to us in every manner.

It is never too early to teach children good manners. Studies show that even at a very young age, kids are already capable of learning and experiencing empathy and concern for others. Teaching manners becomes easier when it is a common practice in the household.

high definition footages for sale

I've always been asked on why I didn't enter the field of advertising but graphic design. Though I adore advertising design, I didn't fancy the culture and lifestyle of the industry. I'm still captivated by TV commercial and creative animations on the screen, especially the latest 3D graphics that added so much reality and attraction to modern cinematography. What I've just discovered is that advertising agencies and production houses can now purchase high definition footages from HD Stock Video Library. These footages from AlwaysHD are contributed by professional cinematographers and are available for sale on the website. Clients can search for special footage for their use in their commercials or production since these footages are royalty free once purchased, which allow the flexibility of use for any kind of work.

what is your splurge this month?

What is the most expensive item you bought this month? Ya, I know it's only the second week of October but that's why I'm asking. I know of a friend who has splurged on a Rolex watch (real one), courtesy of her hubby - I'm sooooo happy for her! Another one has just spent RM800 in 10 minutes to beautify herself and pamper her skin - she deserves it!


Me? I splurged on a Georg Jensen silver brooch which cost xxx - not revealing cos some of you may report to my hubby - lol. But well, we women need to be pampered every now and then, it makes us happy, keeps us motivated and helps us look forward to better days ahead. Pampering doesn't mean the high dollar value. It just means having something that you want - not need :)

oops... longsightedness knocking on the door?

I got myself a new pair of glasses on my last trip to Singapore. According to my optician, my power had decreased which sounded like good news. But suddenly, something struck me. Could this be an indication of 'long sightedness' - oh no! I know my DH hasn't got over the fact that he needs those reading glasses and I'm not about to come close to that.

Oops... how does it feel to have reading glasses when you pass 40? Ahem.. I'm not 40 yet hor!

DIY holiday gift ideas

When we find that the days are approaching towards the next festive holiday or special occasion, we all get the dreaded feeling of not knowing what to give out as a great holiday gift idea. We worry that whatever it is that we choose for the person or people we have in mind, there is no way that they will be truly happy with what we bring. That is, until you remember the old saying that items made from the heart last a lifetime and are always the best gift to give.

This is the time to think and pound your mind on what you are good at with your hands. It could be making a card, drawing a picture, doing a craft, knit a sweater or bake some cookies!

Baking goods have always been the biggest homemade gift that is given out, whether it be cookies, pies, or cakes. Bake some cookies, brownies and other such baked goods and placed inside mason jars, topped with fabric, a small ribbon, and the recipe.

What do you think?

internet changes communication

Like every woman who longs to be adored and considered for marriage when the right time comes, I have read about Russian women looking for marriage. The internet has changed the way people communicated. These days, we can talk or chat with anyone in the world with an internet connection at NO cost. Emails are common, so are chat rooms and social networking platforms. Thus, it is no surprise that more and more people are making friends online. Mixed marriages are common and there is an increasing trend of men from US, Canada and Australia meeting and marrying Russian women who are educated, attractive, committed and strong in family values. Lovers Planet is responsible for connecting many Russian women to men looking for Russian brides as life partners and dedicated to a long term relationship.

metal buildings better than wood frame ones

Seven years ago, we attended my brother-in-law's convocation and took the opportunity to tour around San Francisco for a short time. My brother in law is a marathon runner and will participate in numerous runs just for the fun of it. Being a bachelor, this is how he spends his leisure and recreation moments. While we were there visiting, he took us to a marathon event cum carnival, together with our cousins. That was an eye opener for us as we got a chance to experience the locals and participate in some carnival activities. I did notice that the organizer was using metal buildings for the activity rooms, which were spacious, functional and most importantly, they were easy to set up.

Later on, I was told that metal buildings were popular for both commercial and residential use due to the durability and price factors. Unlike wood frame buildings, they were not prone to termites attack or weather damage.

09 October, 2007

for adults only



Well, I have forgotten what romanticism is after becoming a mom for the last three years. Oh, what I mean is we have said goodbye to couple holidays for now until 'don't know when'... I know many couples still go for holidays by themselves even after they have children but it's not so for us since we are full-time caregivers to our boy too. Besides, our parents are not fit enough to run after an active boy like Clayton.

But should we have a chance to visit any adult resorts, we will check out Hedonism by Superclubs. Imagine waking up to spectacular views and not worrying about a fixed schedule and routine. Have breakfast in bed, laze in your comfortable sleepwear and party till there's no tomorrow! Well, that's what an all-inclusive vacation in Hedonism is all about - don't need to worry about your wallet, tipping, paying for food and recreation... it's just pure luxury and relaxation. It's the ideal place to start your life together or to renew your marriage vows by falling in love with each other again... how nice!

identify your target audience

Starting a business is not easy these days. With rising costs in rental, manpower, utilities and other marketing activities, you need to do your math well before investing in any business. Even when it comes to marketing and advertising, you need to identify your target audience to ensure higher conversion rates. To achieve that, a good quality Mailing List is necessary as you don't want to waste your marketing dollar. No wonder Fortune 1000 companies are turning to Martin Worldwide for reliable data list in their marketing campaigns. The company is reputed for being the largest provider for customized mailing lists, telemarketing lists and fax lists.

shopping for kids' toys



Can I tell you how much I adore little dollhouses? I never had the luxury to grow up with these so it just makes me wanna turn back the clock and experience the fun. Besides, my little boy will never go near a dollhouse, boys being boys! He would hop onto any motorbike or ride-on car but never likes anything soft and pink. I suppose it must be the hormones!

When it comes to shopping for kids' toys, it's always good to compare prices at various stores, and online shopping makes it convenient to do do. Shopping dot com has a huge collection of toys for all children of all ages. Kids' costumes, dollhouses, soft toys, toy vehicles, lego, star wars sets...etc. What's great is that you can compare prices among various stores, all in one glance, which makes it a cool way to save!

how many posts do you write a day?

It's always interesting to chat with non-bloggers about blogging. During a dinner conversation with a good friend last weekend, we were discussing about paid blogging and the local blogging scene. My friend had a blog too but an inactive one. He asked me how regularly do I post in my blogs. "Is it one a day?", he asked. I looked at him, shook my head and gave him an estimate. He got a shock. Some of you know what my answers are... what about you? How many posts do you write a day for your blogs?

more new malls opening up

In the last one month, 3 mega malls have opened up in KL. DH and myself have yet to visit any of these new malls and we won't be til another month or two. There's no point being there as not all shops are opened yet plus the traffic to these malls will be bad at this moment.

DH was telling me about a friend who had two kiosks in KLCC selling sunglasses. He had initially reserved two stores in Pavilion and The Gardens but pulled out last minute from the contract after realizing that he might not sustain with immense competition. As a retailer, not only does he need to invest in used point of sale to reduce cost, he needs to invest in a bulk of inventory to start the new shops. Currently, he's using ibm pos equipment and Fujitsu point of sale equipment which have been serving his business well. But he's concerned about not being able to handle the high rental costs if the initial sales are not favourable.

So I guess running a retail business these days isn't easy after all. Competition, high operating costs, manpower costs, rental, inventory are all part of the business investments that need serious consideration.

your online library of books and journals



If only the internet technology was that advanced ten years ago, I would have sailed through my research thesis smoothly. Looking back, I was having a hard time locating research and books of my subject topic and as a result of that, I had to order some of those hard-to-find books from States, which cost me alot of money.

When I learn about Questia, an online library for all academic books and journals, I am impressed with the 70,000 digital books and 1.7 million articles in its collection. For those who frequently conduct research in their field of study, you have just found a one-stop resource for your academic material. Whatever subjects you are searching for - arts and architecture, economics and business, literature, law, psychology, religion or science and technology, the smart search features will present you with a list of digital books and articles relevant to your search topic. What's unique about Questia is that subscribers can pen down notes on the digital book or article, highlight important quotes or passages and use the text in any style they want. Another cool thing is, this digital library is available 24/7 and never closes a day, unlike your local or school library. This facilitates all your research activities any time you want, with no rush, no stress except complete convenience. Your research can be done anywhere as long as there is an internet connection.

In case you think this is only a research library for the academics, take heart. Questia has over 5,000 FREE books available for all avid readers. You may also want to take advantage of the free trial to a set of books in any of these four subjects: Psychology, Ethics, Leadership, or Early American History.

It's hard to find an area that Questia needs to work on as everything is well thought of, right to filing your online notes to putting together a bibliography. Perhaps Questia can include more subscription options for users. Currently, it offers $19.95 for a monthly subscription and a $99.95 for a yearly one. If possible, discounts can be offered to students and a loyalty program can be introduced for subscribers who returned after a short break.

I have no doubt that Questia is the most comprehensive online library for all researchers, academicians and students of this modern internet age.

08 October, 2007

When will segmentation end?

I was just looking at my earnings for last month. My blogging buddies have always tell me we can still do well without PPP. At one time, I wasn't convinced by that but not anymore. Looking at last month's earnings, I had done well at LoudLaunch, Sponsored Reviews and even Smorty. The rest of the networks had also helped to meet my target, which was great. It is disappointing to see only 31 opps out of 203 opps... what on earth is going on huh? Why are advertisers letting their opps rot away, I wonder? When will segmentation end?

chinese VCDs to incalcuate good values



Last weekend, we took Clayton for some shopping and ended up with a big hole in DH's pocket - lol. Not sure if anyone of you has seen these chinese VCD series on chinese proverbs, poetry, ethics and values teaching but if you are keen to expose your little ones to mandarin songs and good values, check them out. They used to be sold in audio CDs but now, you can get them in VCDs. They are simple Mandarin phrases in easy going light tunes to teach children traditional values, chinese proverbs, chinese character history...etc. Available in popular bookstores.

07 October, 2007

more talk on website optimization firm

I was discussing about seo with a friend during dinner. He was asking me about how some wesbites rank top in google and how do that help to benefit the website owners. I wasn't able to explain to him due to my lack of knowledge in this big topic of seo so I suggested that he tried to search the internet for help.

I believe tips, guidelines and methods for search engine optimization are plenty to be found. You can read many articles that can help you optimize your site in search engine results. The more knowledge and information you gather the better. This will all help you in getting those high rankings. This may require a little time and effort in your part but the benefits will be astounding. But the reality is not everyone has the time to do these things so the best thing to do is to approach the help of a reliable website optimization firm. You can also check out the website of Think Big Sites, which provides a detailed overview of SEO. Being a website optimization firm, it has helped many companies rank top in search engines which eventually seen an increase in their website traffic.

my silver brooch indulgence

During my last trip to Singapore, I had another sinful indulgence. I finally bought myself a Georg Jensen brooch after having no success at Tiffany or other silver accessories stores. For me, I've always adore silver, though I do admit that they need extra care to be kept beautiful and lasting. For a long time, silver is regarded by many investors as a good investment and in fact, I was told that this is a good time to buy them if you have some spare cash. Available online at Monex deposit company, people are buying silver bullions for investment since the demand for silver is higher than its annual production. If you are keen to know more, check out how you can purchase silver coins online at monex.com

Do you lavish your children with expensive toys?

It feels good to pamper my boy. I know DH won't be happy to hear this but all mommies out there know what I mean! We are not that sort of parents who adorn our boy with expensive toys. In fact, we hardly buy toys for him. Most of those toy cars and blocks are either gifts or bought during sale and they aren't expensive and extravagant ones either. I do buy lots of educational stuff for him - books, flash cards and VCDs and I'm glad Clayton enjoys them.

Today, I insisted that we bought him a set of Chinese books series and a set of IQ games. The bill came up to RM800 and you should see DH's eyes rolling! But I told him these would be Clayton's birthday gift and he agreed that those were good things to have.

What about you? Do you lavish your children with expensive toys?

06 October, 2007

jerry is getting married!


My ex-student just beeped me on msn yesterday, asking me for my mailing address. Jerry is finally tying the knot! I am so happy for him that he's getting married to a wonderful girl whom he has known for more than 10 years! While I'm all excited for him, I can sense he's stressed with all the wedding preparation.


I know he's still figuring out on unique wedding favors on that day. I hope he's finding some help at The Knot Wedding Shop since they have lots of creative wedding supplies from lovely wedding favors to reception items, wedding cameras, decorations, gifts, wedding apparel, jewelry, accessories and everything else that helps make the day special for the wedding couple. Knowing Jerry, he's one fussy guy who will take time to choose the most unique wedding favors so I know The Knot is the right place for him!

have you heard of fire glass?



When I heard about this next cool thing for the home backyard, I thought it was interesting to check out. Urban fire glass is contemporary and artistic is its visual appeal. Apparently, it's hot and cool at the same time. What an interesting concept. Plus, it is alot nicer than old fire logs in the house... great for places which have four seasons. It's definitely out of question for our local folks here ;P

stairlifts for outdoor use

Just when I was writing about Stairlifts yesterday, a friend was asking if there were such stairlifts for outdoor use. I took a look at Value Stairlifts and true enough, I saw one that was designed ideally for garden porch and houses with garages.



Since the stairlifts are made of high quality material that are heat and UV resistant, they are durable and do not fade easily under adverse weather conditions. These stairlifts are great for folks who need to be outdoors and provide more flexibility for their movements. After all, everyone enjoys mobility and independence. For people with a limited budget or don't need a stairlift for long periods of time, they can consider the reconditioned stairlifts for better value and equivalent quality. These reconditioned stairlifts have been carefully refurbished and checked by experienced technicians before they are being released for sale.

credit card debt help information

Unfortunately, throughout the years, more and more people are becoming victims of enormous credit card debts that they probably will never get paid off. It is a shame to know that so many people feel that they NEED so many things but realize the only way that they could possibly get those things is by using their credit cards, and they normally have plenty of them to choose from! Don't believe? Ask your friends how many credit cards they have in their wallets and the answer is seldom at one.

Credit card debt has increased drastically throughout the past several years and it does not look like many people are yet realizing just how bad this problem is. If you are struggling each month, trying to figure out how in the world you will ever have the ability to pay all of your credit card payments on time, then you should credit card cebt help. The debt settlement company has some useful information on credit card debt consolidation, credit card counselling and debt settlement options to assist those who need help in debt relief.

05 October, 2007

do you want more website traffic?

To be honest with you, I was a total internet dummy a year ago. I don't even know how to upload a file or understand HTML and stuff like that. Worse still, when I attended my first internet marketing workshop with DH, I was clueless what those speakers were rambling on stage. I heard them talking about this and that product can bring more website traffic but did you think I really care at that time?

My learning curve began early this year as I read and studied more of what others were doing in the world of internet. This was when I fully understood why people spent big amount of money on bringing more traffic to their websites. Basically, more more website traffic can mean more awareness on their products or services which would eventually influence the profits of the company. From what I understand, this is a tedious and complex job that requires an experienced SEO company to carry out. If you like to learn more about what SEO, read these useful information at Think Big Sites which provides a detailed overview of what this subject is all about.

I found another Singaporean blogger!

It's interesting to note that in the last one year of blogging, most of my blogging buddies are mostly from Malaysia except one, who hails from my hometown, Singapore. Whenever I ask my Singaporean friends if they have a blog, they would look at me and reply "Where got time?"

Not having enough time is a typical excuse of most Singaporeans. Today, I have the opportunity to check out a Singaporean's blog who lives in a district not very far from where I used to live. Just a Thought is authored by David Woon, who has a noble dream of helping others unleash their potential in making the world a better place to live. From his profile, I understand that he reads widely and loves devouring knowledge to broaden his perspective of life. In his blog, he shares his thoughts and observations on subjects pertaining to happiness, life, media, people and local news. I can tell that this blog is his space to document his thoughts and views while hoping to inspire those who come along and leave footprints behind. I believe his work and little addition to the family must be keeping him busy everyday which is why David doesn't post everyday like some of us do :P

Looking for some inspiration on life's issues and stories, drop by Just a Thought by David Woon.

hoping to spot whales in Maui



According to travel guides, it says that we may be able to catch the sight of whales spouting at Maui's shore. Wow! How exciting is this! In other words, we don't even need to take a boat out there and be worried about getting sea sick to spot these humpback whales!

Our Maui Vacations are getting more and more exciting as I put together a list of must-dos and must see's. With the short time we had, we may consider booking ourselves to one of the helicopter flight seeing excursions that take us over Hana, Haleakala Crater and West Maui mountains. The information at the Hawaii travel blog are useful in our itinerary planning. Thanks to the people at Hawaiian Beach Rentals who updates the blog with valuable information for tourists and vacation seekers.

These helicopter flights may cost around $125 fo a half hour to $400 for a 2 hour mega experience. While two hours may be too long for us, I hope there is something between 45 - 50 minutes during that time.

how about a portable DVD player for Clayton's birthday?



In less than two weeks' time, Clayton turns three. I was asking DH what should we get for him. While DH is that sort who doesn't quite bother about gifts, me (the momma) will take the opportunity to pamper him with a good gift.

I am thinking if it's a good idea to buy Clayton a portable 10 inch DVD player. I have seen parents entertaining their small children with one of these portable DVD player in restaurants and public places. It looks kinda cool and is definitely a helpful 'tool' to calm a cranky kid on the table. Those of us with small children understand that a quiet and peaceful meal doesn't come easy with little ones on the table! After a little research on the web, I saw the portable DVD player being sold at Digital Framez, with all the product information I would need to know more. Now, I gotta get that man in the house to look at it and approve with a nod before I can place my order online.

things are changing

Yesterday, I came across couple of websites on drug rehab centers and I was amazed at the design. No longer were there emotional images as in some sites but lifestyle ones that bring a friendlier and relaxing appeal. This shows that people's tastes are changing and they need new styles to captivate their attention. These days, drug rehabs are located in areas with lush greens, spectacular views, neat landscapes and luxurious ambience. I believe it's not just treating the physical but mental and psychological aspects of the person that matters.

mouse trap needed in DH's ipoh house!

DH and myself got a shock when we heard from his parents' maid that their house had been infested with rats. I was the first one to shudder and I could see my goose pimples appearing on my arms. I hate rats, mouse, whatever you call them. That explains why I never keep hamsters or mice in the house too. DH has to get a mouse trap to start catching these rats before they start to do more damage. As it is, they are already chewing the electrical wires, destroyed the satellite dish on the roof and stealing the food on the table. OH, what pests they are!



Since there are many different kinds of mouse traps in the market, he's thinking of trying out the humane mouse traps with no wind up mechanism. Basically, humane mouse traps mean you catch them LIVE, not deadly squashed, if you know what I mean. You can then dispose them in the wild or immerse in water - yeee! Or maybe the Glue traps may be easier too. But anyways, it's not something I like to explore so I'll leave him to make the decision :P

learning from people's experiences and reviews

Since I started blogging, I have learned from the reviews of others in the web. Sometimes, I can be searching for a product to purchase and reading what others think can point me to the right direction. It can be a beauty product or just a web service I am planning to subscribe too. Besides searching and reading reviews of others, I will also seek advice from blogging buddies and friends.

Even for my hubby, who was searching for hair loss treatment products at one time. He was searching for Provillus information and he found some reviews of real users sharing their experience on the product. I also realized that I can read reviews of real users of certain products at trustsource.org. Reading reviews help to avoid costly mistakes and make me a more savvy shopper. Don't you think so?

potty training journey

I was so excited this morning. Thanks to my blogging buddy who encouraged me to read with Clayton in his potty, I have been practising this for few days and it's working. Clayton looks forward to sitting at the toilet bowl with a book (just like adults :P). This morning, he finally poo poo in the toilet. I know it doesn't sound that great to you guys buy to me, it's a good start to a successful potty training journey! I praised him for doing that and he was happy. I believe I need to continue doing this with patience and in a months' time, he should be getting used to this.

affordable alcoholism treatment Center

Alcoholism is in fact an illness, a disease, and finding a way to cure you from alcoholism before it destroys your life can be more than a challenge. You have first got to realize that recognizing that you are an alcoholic is the first step towards freeing yourself from alcohol forever. It is going to probably be the most difficult thing you will ever experience but once you can wake up knowing that you are free from alcohol you will begin to learn more positive, healthier activities, that you can start practicing in your life, to make you a stronger individual overall. Getting the proper treatment is so important but you need to realize that this is a life changing experience and it will also be a lifetime commitment to yourself.

For treatment in alcoholism, check out The Shoresdrug rehab treatment center who is known for its high quality treatment at the most affordable price of $8,500 for a 30 day residential program. Besides offering ongoing support to patients before, during and after treatment, this alcoholism treatment center continues to provide ongoing support and counselling for a full year. This helps to encourage long term sobriety in every patient who has completed the program in continuing this new path of life.

04 October, 2007

drug and alcohol rehab center in laguna beach

My first glance of this drug and alcohol rehab Ccenter throws me off. I almost thought it was a travel site on the famous Laguna Beach which I visited seven years ago but I was wrong. This is actually the header of Laguna Beach Recovery website which specializes in providing hope and help to people wanting to regain their life back from drugs and alcohol.

What sets Laguna Beach Recovery apart is the low cost treatment program it offers. They focus on strengthening the mind and building inner strength in the patients. With all that laguna beach can offer, patients can relax in the carefree environment, take a walk at the beach, read a book, enjoy the breeze, watch sunset, get engage in sporting activities and much more. The center offers several addiction drug rehab treatment programs that focuses on helping the patients maintain long term sobriety. All programs focus on the restoration and rejuvenation of mind, body and spirit of the person. So if you know of anyone who needs to be free from drugs and alcohol, point them to Laguna Beach Recovery.

document scanning service to the rescue!



As much as I enjoy working with my hubby, there are days of frustration, conflict, arguments and regret. We both have our own working styles so on one hand, we complement each other and on the other, we clash. It's a bitter sweet feeling if you know what I mean.

For instance, he hates filing and I hate mess so this creates a conflict between us. Seven years of running seminars mean we have lots of files and documents in our little home office - imagine the cabinets we need to add each year to accommodate new files. I told DH that we should look into for a company who can help us with Document Scanning Service. That way, we don't have to worry about filing so many registration forms and these documents are kept secure in the archives. Document Scanning Service is also cheaper than buying cabinets and solves all storage problems.

now I need a pair of sandals

keen.jpg

Now that I've got my luggage for our December vacation, I'm wondering what shoes I should bring with me to Hawaii :) Being someone who prefers to travel light, I'll probably bring a pair of all-purpose sandals which is versatile enough for rugged use or casual smart wear. While shopping for my sandals, I across an online store that specializes on a good selection of sandals. More...At Active Sandals, you can buy Reef Sandals Online, Birkenstock sandals, Rainbow sandals, Teva sandals, Chaco sandals and many others. I'm a big fan of Birkenstock sandals and bought one few months ago. Actually, I thought the women's Keen sandals are quite nice. Sporty, trendy, rugged and not overly casual, they are great for long trails and adventure walks. Since I live in a warm and humid climate, the V-strap forefoot helps keep the feet in place, preventing them from sliding during the warmer days.

reefmen.jpg

Since DH may need a pair of sandals as well for the trip, I think this pair of white Reef sandals may fit him just fine. He's that sort who prefers sandals with good grip and are easy to slip in and out so Reef sandals is great for him. Active Sandals offers free ground shipping for all orders over $75 so it works out well if everyone in the family gets a pair of their favourite sandals. If only they have something for Clayton :P

clayton is turning three!



I've got a playful boy who doesn't stop moving from the time he wakes up til he sleeps at night. Clayton is turning three in less than 2 weeks' time and looking back, this is an interesting journey for us. Alot of tears and fears, pain and gain, he has played a big part in spicing up my life in the last three years. Now, the next milestone is to potty train him. I'm praying that he reaches this milestone before our trip to Hawaii... these pictures were taken in a coach on our trip to Singapore. That was one of the ways to keep him occupied!

more mineral makeup samples arrived!



In the last two days, I have been receiving different mineral makeup samples from various online stores. I am so thrilled to be trying out and reviewing new mineral foundation, shimmers, finishing powders, bronzers, eye shadows and lip glosses. I'm waiting for this weekend where I can put on these new shades and see if they deliver what they promise! Till then, more mineral makeup reviews coming up!

where exclusive leads do matter

We had completed another seminar last week so as usual, it's time for another de-briefing session to find out what can be learned from the entire event. For years, we know that quality leads are important to generate the right response to our events but the challenge is finding them.

Previously, there were many marketing companies who tried to sell leads to us but when asked about where these leads were from, they couldn't provide us with satisfactory answers. Not unless these leads are quality ones like those in LeadPile, The Lead Marketplace/Exchange where buyers and sellers connect. At Leadpile, you can specify the kind of leads you want and buy them for your business. By specifying the lead categories, you reduce the risks of marketing to the wrong target audience which may be a waste of your money. This is great for anyone looking for exclusuvce leads as all lead sellers are screened by Leadpile to ensure credibility and professional in their business dealings.

03 October, 2007

my amykathryn designer bag review is up!



My designer bag review is up! Thanks to Amy who sent me this lovely Marigold Leopard bag which did take me a while to get used to. But after using it for a full weekend, I'm in love with this hip and modern bag. It is light, spacious, elegant, stylish and artistic! I like the way Amy uses the leopard print suede, it's different from those 'tai tai' looking bags on the catwalk. I'm just not the 'tai tai' sort of person :P

For a change, this bag is a great add-on to my collection. Check out my designer handbag review! It feels great doing a 'real' product review :)

more about running online stores

There are many advantages in managing an online business. One of which is the fact that it works for you round the clock of being 24/7. You don't need to worry about shop rental, opening hours, hiring people, manpower problems, and you can work at the comforts of your home - anytime, anyplace. You may have the sources to market certain products but do not want the hassle of even maintaining your online store.

What you can do is to find a fully automated warehouse where all your inventory and products can be organized, packed and shipped to your customers, from start to finish. GDF Fulfillment Solutions is a one-stop provider that can act as your wholesale clothing distributor or be one of your music cd distributors, depending what products you have in mind. The company can even take care of all the online ordering and transactions and handles the shipping process. In other words, you don't even need to bear any warehouse or manpower costs. If this is what you are looking for, contact GDF at their website and receive a quote within 24 hours!

Let your words be seasoned with grace

I learned something this morning after an argument that sparked from a word of criticism. That is, when you have nothing positive or uplifting to say to anyone, remain silent. The tongue is a powerful weapon, the Bible says. It is powerful enough to build and lift up broken spirits but has equivalent power to tear someone down. Always learn to listen and refrain from making judgments based on outward observation. Criticism blocks and stops all constructive conversation and brings a strong defense in anyone.

Think before you speak. Let your words be seasoned with grace and salt, peace and love.

how to save on warehouse costs

A friend had spoken to me after starting a business together. While he's keen to do something of artistic nature, it excites me cos it's a subject I can relate closely to. After a brief discussion, I realize that he has no idea how to bring this to fruition. With the internet technology moving so fast, I suggested an online platform to reach a wider market and audience. There are many things to consider with this business. Since the products may come in varying sizes, warehousing and inventory were many primary concerns. These days, there are companies that provide warehousing solutions for online stores and business owners who need space to carry their inventory. This help to save expensive cost in warehouse rentals on long term basis since what you need is to pay for warehousing service for your inventory. In fact, this type of warehousing service is great for xwholesale book distributors as the company can pack and ship the books on behalf of the online store and ensure a lower shipping cost.

online shopping offers privacy

I used to shop for DH in the past. In fact, almost all his nice shirts, socka and even mens underwear in his wardrobe are gifts for his birthday, anniversary, Christmas...etc. But nowadays, he gets more conscious and vain that he will buy new shirts for himself when there is a bargain in the stores. He's not that sort who likes to splurge on his attire so his favourites stores - FOS and The Reject Shop! I always joke that he's saving all the money for my shopping fancies! LOL.

But sometimes I feel a little uncomfortable in hanging around the men's underwear section especially when I plan to buy his some new boxers. Some of the male shoppers will throw me some funny stares which I don't like. So a better alternative would be to shop online. DUGG is an online store that is based Sydney and offers international shipping for orders over $80. With so many brands including Calvin Klein, Bonds and HOM, they offer a wide selection of men's briefs, boxers, thongs, sleepwear, tees...etc. At least with online shopping, I don't need to entertain any stares and can pick anything I want.

an extraordinary wedding



A wedding is not considered someone’s “big day” for nothing. For some people it is the formal expression of an endless commitment. For others, a wedding is simply an extravagant way of sealing the union between couples. But no matter how people look at it, it remains to be one of the most-celebrated events of all time.

Regardless who you are marrying, or at what age you’re doing it, your wedding day should be more special than any other day in your life. Let’s face it, weddings entail expenses – a lot in fact. But just because you can’t have it in the most elegant fashion doesn’t mean you should not get married at all. Weddings can still be very extraordinary even if you only have limited funds. One of the ways to save is to check out on all inclusive honeymoons that even includes preparation for your special day. Exchange vows in destination weddings in The Bahamas or the Carribean will bring memories of a lifetime. What more, you will be treated with super-inclusives and enjoy a stress-free wedding in paradise!

thinking of my caesar salad



I'm looking forward my regular caesar salad at Delicious this coming weekend. This is one place we frequent every other weekend and I can tell DH is already getting bored. But there are just too many of my favourite dishes found here - caesar salad, smoked duck pasta, lamb shank and the ultimate chocolate brownie! If you haven't been to Delicious then you probably won't know what the crowd is like on the weekends. But somehow, the wait is short and you will be seated at the table quite fast. Oh dear, why am I thinking about food at this hour? It must be that strong desire to put on those extra kilos :P

Anyone likes to put on some weight?

Contrary to the dreams of many women, I'm trying to put a couple of kilos since everyone is commenting that I've lost weight. Thanks to extended breastfeeding, I haven't regained my weight since. In order to succeed, I'm making a point to eat breakfast regularly and take more protein foods. I have also included an exercise program in my daily schedule since I can't find time for the gym at this moment. Hopefully, the coconut and flaxseed oil are helping to add some healthy calories as well. Anyone likes to put on some weight?

02 October, 2007

how about all inclusive vacations?



Yes, I know we are heading for Hawaii this December and I'm all thrilled about this one month vacation. But if Hawaii is not your choice of destination, then how about these all inclusive resorts in Jamaica and the Carribbean at Superclubs?

When I entered the website, I was greeted with an animated header showing coconut trees, blue skies, turquoise waters, rolling hills at the golf course and white sandy beaches. This is the kind of vacation many people crave for - all inclusive basically means your meals, recreation, activities, accommodation, tips, recreation and more! Imagine waking up to breakfast on the table, sounds of sweeping waves, be greeted by golden sunrise and impeccable service at every corner. Pick from all inclusive jamaica, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Curacao and Brazil, all packages are as sensational as the description and photos on the site. I know it's not easy to convince you so why don't head down the site and see it for yourself?

wanna splurge on a private jet charter?



There are many ways to travel these days. Whether it's by air, sea or land, the options are yours to pick, depending on your travel needs. Have you heard of Private Charter Flights? These are usually booked by companies - small or large, government agencies and travel companies for special trips. Other people who are repeat clients of these private charter flights include private families, performing artists, VIPs...etc. Actually, if you have the budget, taking a private jet to your honeymoon destination may be a real splurge for your bride-to-be!

With numerous flight options to choose, your choice of flight and itinerary will determine the pricing. What is great is that there is no payment before you travel and you are granted the flexibility to choose your private jet, from executive turboprops that cost $950 - $1,450 hourly to large cabin jets that cost $4,000 - $7,200 hourly. New Flight Charters is reputed for its wide selection of aircraft, safe flying, excellent service and best pricing. You can read from the list of impressive testimonies which explain why many companies are choosing New Flight Charters for their business and leisure trips.

process of owning our first home

Owning a home is a natural decision for any couple who plans to spend their lives together. Looking back, it was exciting choosing our 'love nest' when Alex and myself were getting married 7 years ago. At that time, I preferred a condominium as I was concerned about the security of staying in a house. But eventually, we bought a link house after considering the valuation and cost effectiveness of a house.

Like most couples, we shopped for the best mortgage loans from several banks, comparing the interests offered and other terms and conditions that came along with the proposal. We needed to make sure that there would be no hidden fees and the interests was fixed at a certain rate. Then we we had to check on our down payments with mortgage payment calculator so that the home loan could be reduced, which meant less interests over the next 10-20 years. Using a free mortgage calculator is useful during the entire planning process especially if you are not familiar with interests and the calculation process.

all set to visit Haleakala National Park



In case you don't know, next to Waikiki, the next most popular destination in Hawaii is Maui. In December, we will be part of the 2.5 million travelers to set foot on its sunny shores. From what I read, Maui has lots to offer in every sense - nature, sun, mountains, ocean and the waterfalls.

We are planning for a trip to the Haleakala National Park during our two nights there. I heard that watching sunset at the summit is the best experience anyone can have yet I am not sure if we can ever make it with a three year old :P Those who have traveled with little children know that we can't have high expectations when we travel with kids. Be realistic is the best way to make everyone happy. If we can't have the best, we must be prepared for second best.

Maui is an ideal destination for families. With the many Maui condos in the area, it's easy to find one that suits your needs and budget. If you need help on accommodation search, the Hawaiian travel blog is a good source of information, hosted by Hawaiian Beach Rentals, a booking site for all accommodations in Hawaii. Choose from the huge list of condos and vacation rentals, all listed along with detailed information and photos on the website. And if you need any help, don't hesitate to drop them a line.

something urgent, something important and something forgotten

It's the first day of a new month. Wow.. in two months' time, we will be entering into another New Year. How time flies. Though it's only October, I'm doing some evaluation on my personal priorities for this year. Honestly, I'm not proud about it at all. Somehow, I feel that I have lost my balance in some ways and it's time to do some adjustments before the year comes to an end. I always feel that there are so much to do but so little time. I wish I can spend more time with my boy yet there are a list of things waiting for me to accomplish. I wish I can do less work and spend more time to do leisure stuff but I simply can't afford to. There is always something urgent, something important and something forgotten - ever faced that dilemma before?

01 October, 2007

driving to Kauai beaches



Many travel guides suggest that if we stay in the Waikiki area, we will not need a car since everything is in close proximity. Shopping is near, restaurants are in abundance and I picture it as a place where I can stroll casually at my own pace. And that's what a vacation is all about.

But we plan to get a rental car for a few days so that we can drive to other side of the island. I have heard so much about Kauai beaches and its natural beauty so we are definitely checking that place out. If only we have more time in Hawaii, I will book a couple of nights with Kauai vacation rentals to fully enjoy the idyllic beaches and explore more of its environs. I also realized from my research that Kauai is home to many artists and designers and there are lots of specialty boutiques for shoppers looking for handmade and local stuff. I believe there are more Hawaiian vacation information available at Hawaiian Beach Rentals. So yes, we are all set for a visit to Kauai and its beaches!

our hawaii vacation research continues...



My research for our Hawaii vacation has halted a little as I get busy with work. Every now and then, DH will ask me on the progress and I'll telling him the same stuff. Sometimes, I wish that I can put aside all work and focus on my research, everyday seems like a rush these days.

After reviewing all the Oahu vacation rentals, we have settled for Waikiki beach area for its convenience and location. I know it sounds a bit touristy but we are tourists, after all :P Looks like I have to work abit faster and harder in putting our itinerary together. Perhaps, do more reading on Hawaii Travel Information at Hawaiian Beach Rentals website since there are lots of valuable information for holiday makers and tourists. After looking at the map of Oahu, I don't think we can cover all places with only 8 days on the island, there are so much to do there. Besides, DH has already planned to do a surfing course on the first day and I'll be checking out on the malls with Clayton. Research for our Hawaii vacation continues...

should I invest in a property in Singapore?

My mom is bugging me to buy a place in Singapore. I can sense that she still hope that I'll return to Singapore one day to live but I'm afraid she may be disappointed. But I may still consider speaking to a real estate agent to see if it's the right time to invest in a property. I had a friend who bought a 3 room flat in Holland Village and it seemed that the ROI was pretty attractive. Investing in a property may force me to save and spend less. Besides, rental income is another good stream of income if the ROI is good. I should seriously discuss with DH about this.

I had a fashionable pregnancy



My wardrobe needs some repacking after three years of neglect. Currently, it's filled with my maternity clothes, nursing wear, oversize and outdated clothing. Looking back, I had a 'new' wardrobe in the first two years of motherhood and it was nice shopping for contemporary maternity and nursing wear. I was one of those who disliked preggy looking clothes so I really went against the convention of hiding the bum. After all, why must pregnant ladies be deprived by fashionable and stylish clothing? This is a happy event - go ahead, pamper yourself and celebrate with a new wardrobe!

do you go overboard with baby clothes?

Even before I became a mom, I loved looking at baby clothes and would get excited when I needed to buy gifts for baby showers. Nowadays, baby clothings are soooo cute and adorable. It's amazing that parents are willing to spend on dressing up their little cuties. Some of the children's clothes are even more expensive than adults' ones. As for me, I do buy nice stuff for Clayton but will not go overboard. Children grow fast and if they don't usually wear that dress or pants for too long. So as parents, it's up to your own belief systems and preferences on how much you are willing to lavish on your kids. Personally, I just don't think it's good to spend $200 top for a baby's t-shirt or dress or a pacifier that costs $100. What do you think?