Wordless Wednesday - Clayton loves greens!

Did I ever mentioned that Clayton loves vegetables? Yes, I am so thankful and blessed. I have heard so much stories of how parents have to bribe their kids to eat their greens...





Ahhh......



what is this?



munch... munch.. munch

boost the immune

Ever since I recovered from asthma and my night cough, I have been faithfully taking my Vitamin C, Propoplus and Echinacea daily. I'm feeling good so far except for the little sniffles last week. Whenever Clayton comes down with a cold/flu, I tend to be the next victim so the next thing to do is to work on my immune system.

When we have a strong immune system, our bodies are not susceptible to coughs and colds or other respiratory illnesses. I have been told about the benefits of colloidal silver and how it can help to boost the immune and fight common colds. Though I haven't tried it, I believe there is a great deal of research on the web on colloidal silver that I can find. My friend uses it to ease her monthly menstrual cramps and she swears by it. Anyone has any experience with colloidal silver?

vacation tickets booked!

Finally, I have confirmed our vacation plans this December and booked our airline tickets. Since we need an open jaw ticket, flying to Hawaii and coming back from LA, I need a travel agent to do the job. I figure out that it's too complicated doing this online. The travel agent just confirmed that we would be flying by Delta airlines with a 12 hour transit in Korea before enrouting to Hawaii - 12 hours!

Well, I must not forget to make arrangements for our medical travel insurance, an important must-have in all our trips. I was reviewing the Cover my travels and was impressed with the coverage that included many medical conditions that were often not included in other insurance companies. A good and comprehensive coverage means less worries, headaches and unnecessary stress. In order to ensure a smooth and pleasant vacation, it pays to evaluate a good travel insurance so that all your travel needs can be taken care of.

online tutoring

It's not being a child these days. I remembered those good old days of riding my bicycle in the evenings or hanging around at the playground. It was a wonderful childhood albeit simple and plain. I have many friends with children who are in primary schools and they are already so stressed up during their children's exams... sometimes, I wonder why. They are only 8-10 years old and their weekend schedule is full of activities including tuition for all sorts of subjects.

Have you heard of online Tutoring? Hasn't the internet changed the way we learn and live? At tutor vista, you can find online tutors for a host of subjects including English, Math, Science, Geography, History, Algebra, Physics, Economics and lots more! The interesting thing your online tutor is available everyday, 24 hours! If you are keen to find out more, head down to the website and don't miss the unlimited online tutoring package for all subjects at $24.99, valid for the first month only.

my adsense is moving!

2 weeks ago, I jumped with joy when I saw my google Adsense skyrocketed to $9! I had never in my life had $9 in a day! I know I probably sound suakoo but it's just one of those little things that light my day. As a matter of fact, I can see that my Adsense is seeing some movement compared to my earlier days of blogging. $19 for 7 days - not bad lah ..... I'm looking forward to my second cheque from Google :)

my mineral makeup review is up!

Last week, a package from the US came in the mail and I jumped up with joy when I opened it. In the box were many little jars of mineral makeup powders, sent to me by an online makeup site, Lush Erth, which specializes in pure mineral makeup. Well, I tried them on last weekend and did a review on it. Check out my mineral makeup review plus those fabulous brushes!

If you don't know what mineral makeup is, then you are definitely missing something here. They are affordable, natural, don't clog pores and create a radiant finish. Read it, buy it and try it to believe it!

lesson to be learned

This is a true story. I had a business friend who had a strong entrepreneur spirit. He started his own business in his early 20s and due to his hardwork and determination, he managed to grow his business to more than 50 staff within a year. Being someone who took big risks in his business deals, he started negotiating bigger contracts even when the company was not ready. What made it worse was his poor accounting management skills which led him to accumulated debts. Soon, he was having problems paying his creditors, staff's salaries, getting himself into credit card consolidation and eventually, he resorted to filing for bankruptcy.

This could be avoided if he had approached professional negotiators to help him to draw out a debt relief plan. These debt analysts can assist in evaluating his situation and negotiate a lower debt settlement with his creditors. By doing this, he didn't have to resort to bankruptcy and with his entrepreneur spirit, he could start anew and afresh. The lesson for him would be to calculate his costs first before embarking into any new ventures. It always helps to analyze all business plans carefully and not be overcome by greed and the temptation of getting rich quickly.

discussion continues...

First, we have geo segmentation, then, there is discussion on the boards our 'ingrish' not being up to standards. This morning, I was told about a new discussion on how some old time posties are cheating on the system with an attempt to get higher PR and better Alexa rankings. And it seems that these people who are doing that are not from this region! They are given more opportunities for the simple fact that they reside in the US and then, they cheat the system. It must be frustrating huh, knowing that the mouth that you fed are cheating on you...

Trust the Rome experts

My two good friends, Meng and Kim just got back from Rome for their honeymoon two months ago... they had so much to share. After viewing their lovely photos at their photo sharing page, I am inspired to make a trip to Rome someday. I must admit that I'm not a big fan of ancient architecture or history but I still want to see the ancient Rome. I believe the experience will be an awesome one.



I recalled Meng telling me that searching for nice and affordable accommodations in Rome can be challenging, especially when the Malaysia ringgit currency is low and everything is expensive after curency conversion. So it is important to find just the right accommodation at a good price. Seriously, there are so many online travel sites and it's hard to narrow your search to just one. But this morning, I found a great place to search for hotels in rome and the best thing is, the hotels, bed and breakfasts..etc are handpicked by the local experts, Mauro and Paola. Not only are they experts about Rome... they live in Rome! That means you can ask them about the latest updates of Rome - weather, happenings, local news, attractions...etc.



You can trust that their opinions are current and 'real' as they have visited all the recommended accommodations listed on their online travel site. Who else to trust but the people who have personally seen and experienced these hotels, inns, apartments, car rentals... they have handpicked the selections based on quality so you can be rest assured that you are not picking any dinghy hotel. Find also on the website details of Rome attractions including the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, St Peter's Square, Spanish Steps, Pantheon and much more.

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clayton's updates

Clayton is enjoying every bit of school in the last few months. He has been coming home with his craft work and colouring sheets. I often hear him singing to a tune and sometimes, he will be telling me about his friends. He's talking alot these days and could recognize every letter, number, animal, fruit, vegetable, vehicle...etc. I saw these animal masks and thought he would like them for his semester thematic party. He doesn't like anything over his face so I'm really not sure if he would wear them. But they are so cute. Check them out if you have little ones at home.

dinner at SOHO

Lately, we have been hanging out at SOHO restaurant on the weekends. I like the Shanghainese tim sum and the creative dishes on the menu. It's a touch of modernity plus traditional Chinese classic dishes. The other day, we had chilli crab noodles and pork floss olive fried rice. The chilli crab was not too bad except that the sauce is to sweet and the noodles tasted like 'Maggi noodles' - lol. The pork floss rice was surprisingly quite nice but too much of it made me thirsty. I told DH that if he want me to cook with these standards, he better get me a set of berndes cookware. He looked at me and said that he would rather come to SOHO more often. How rude!

Calling all boxing fans!

Ever since Clayton came along, DH was banned from watching any boxing shows in the home. I have no problems with the game, in fact, I used to enjoy a boxing match in front of the TV with DH on those lazy evenings. My brother was a lightweight boxer in his military days and it was fun watching the 'real' match together with an enthusiastic audience.



I just learned that something exciting is happening on August 18 at the South Town Exhibition Center in Sandy, Salt Lake City, Utah. All boxing fans, listen up here! Book your tickets early for this exclusive, not-to-be-missed boxing match between 25 year old heavyweight Russian boxer Roman Greenberg and 35 year old veteran boxer Damon Reed.

To date, Greenberg has been undefeated in his matches with his recent victory over his match with Michal Simms and this coming one will be one that may challenge his career. But Greenberg has come a long way in his boxing career with the support of Backgammon Masters, the backgammon online specialist who also acts as Greenberg's sponsor since the commencement of his career. This big match will also feature professional boxers, David "Tuaman" Tua, "Baby" Joe Mesi and Jeremy Williams.

Some of you may have recalled Backgammon animated series featuring the tiger mascot, Jean-Claude. BackgammonMasters, who is the leader in backgammon online has seen the champ in Greenberg before he became famous and this exciting Utah match will continue to unveil the true potential of this heavyweight boxer.

black diamond, anyone?

Any woman for black diamond? Personally, I'm not very drawn to it as it doesn't sparkle and tends to resemble onyx or artificial black stone but when it's combined with sparkling diamonds, it can be dazzling and alluring. It's the design that counts and makes all the difference. This is a cool one of those sophisticated diamond rings that I saw in an online catalog and the design is contemporary and stylish. Set at 14K white gold with a total diamond weight of 1/4ct. It's on sale at $399.95 (usual price at $595) at reeds.com ( Item # 18899898 )

when voice becomes an asset

The other day, DH was researching on a health product that was hitting waves in the marketplace globally. Out of curiosity, he did a research on the company online and was greeted by a powerful, convincing male voice once the home page was loaded. A clear explanation about the company and the signature product was read out via that male voice over talent. The voice was clear, firm, rich, strong and most importantly, very captivating. It engaged the listener and I was drawn to it even in the midst of my work.

This explains how voice over is so vital in the key aspects of marketing, promotion, advertising and communication. We experience this in our daily lives, whether it's narration on the TV or someone announcing a piece of news over the radio, we can be drawn or bored by 'that voice'. Voice over is a skill and actually influenced by some bit of talent. A good voice over talent is an asset to the company promoting a certain product. It creates life and energy, it interests audience to listen up, to find out more.

So from now on, open your ears. Pay close attention to these voice over artists when you play the radio, watch a movie or an advertisement.

shopping for computer furniture

I just received a furniture catalog in my mailbox few days ago. It is one of those things which I like to keep for future reference since I enjoy looking at home furniture and furnishings. But after browsing through the entire catalog, I couldn't find what I need. I was hoping to find some computer furniture since my work area was getting a little messy with more things added on my working table. I missed the computer table I used to have years ago. It helped to save space and keep my computer equipment neat and tidy.

Nowadays, school computer furniture are getting more sophisticated and modern. With most schools having computer labs, these furniture are becoming popular as they are necessary to provide students a complete learning experience. I would believe that in no time, I would be getting a computer table for my little boy. Things are just so different now...

your stop for evening gowns

I like to be honest here. I tend to get cold feet whenever I'm invited to formal dinners in the past. That is because I always have a problem with finding the right evening gown for the occasion, whether it's a wedding, a corporate dinner ,prom dinner and dance or special event. Being a casual person, I don't have any Formal Dresses in my wardrobe and sometimes, I end borrowing from good friends.

If you are like me who need help in finding the evening gown for that special invitation, check out this online store of elegant and glamorous gowns with various sorts of designs and style. The one-stop store offers designer dresses and gowns that are priced affordably plus FREE shipping on all orders. Shopping online means no time wasted in walking from one store to another and worse still, it may not be easy to find a store that specializes in Evening Dresses.

With a store like Elegant Mart, attending a dinner function is no longer that stressful :)

perks of blogging

One of the nice perks of writing product reviews is that I get to receive nice samples from advertisers. 2 weeks ago, I received a couple of good quality makeup brushes from Erth Mineral Makeup, an online store that offers a good range of mineral makeup including foundation mineral powder, mineral eye shadow, mineral concealer and mineral blusher.

Erth Mineral makeup is 100% pure, crushed minerals which uses the finest ingredients and use no unnecessary fillers such as bismuth oxychloride and our cosmetics contain no nano-particles. In other words, you don't have to worry if you have dozed off to sleep with your makeup on!

The large collection of colours means you can find an appropriate colour that suits your complexion and skin tone. What is nice with mineral makeup is the natural finish of a non made-up look yet making you look radiant, fresh and beautiful. All Erth mineral makeup is naturally non-comedogenic and bacteria resistant which makes it great for those suffering from acne and rosacea.

Read about my Erth Mineral Makeup Brushes with a review on the mineral makeup coming soon! Any jeweler like to send me a sample for review? lol.

relax on the ocean

Few weeks ago, I cut out a newspaper advertisement on cruise vacations and pasted it in front of my work desk. DH saw it and asked if we were going for the 12 days Hawaii Round Islands cruise. It got me thinking about including a cruise in our upcoming vacation and even if we can't do it this time, I would like to take Clayton on an ocean cruise someday.

Going on a cruise is a lovely way to relax, unwind and enjoy a carefree time with your loved ones. I always think it's a great way to enjoy that honeymoon or even tie the knot. Destination Oceans specializes in European cruises including cruises to Alaska, Bermuda, Mediterranean, Hawaii, Greek Isles, South America, South Pacific and more. You can pick from either the attractive all-inclusive cruise packages or cruise-only deals, depending on your preference and budget.



Honestly, I would love to take an Alaska cruise one of these days. I have heard much about the wonderful adventures and spectacular beauty of the Atlaska. Destination Oceans provides lots of cruise options for these popular destinations which makes it a useful resource if you are planning on a cruise vacation.

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my query finally answered

Ever since I bought Clayton his first pack of vehicle flash cards, he has expanded his vocabulary in vehicles and taken an interest in construction and heavy equipment vehicles. I have never paid much attention to any construction site til becoming a mom to a talkative boy, who will shout out 'crane', 'loader' and 'bull dozer' whenever we pass by one. Sometimes it makes me think... where do these heavy equipment drivers learn how to steer those huge and heavy vehicles. It requires skill and precision to operate them.

Ahhh.. here is the answer to my query. I came across a heavy equipment operator school who specializes in providing skilled training in heavy and construction vehicles including bulldozer, backhoe, excavator, loader, road roller, crane...etc. Associated Training Services (ATS) has been in the industry for the last 16 years providing hands on and practical training to help those who are searching for a career in heavy equipment operator industry. With various certification for different kinds of equipment, graduates can look out for job placements available from the schools.

If this is what you are after, check out the programs offered at ATS.

let's go brisbane

Whenever I mention about travel Australia, people will be all excited about Melbourne, Sydney and Gold Coast, but if you have never visited Brisbane, you may be missing the big part of fun in Queensland.

My first visit to Brisbane was dated more than 10 years ago and I had been back to this lovely city a few times now. In fact, next year, we may be planning for a trip to check out the property scene, if my DH hasn't changed his mind. What I should include in our itinerary this time around are day trips to some islands like Bribie island, Moreton Bay or Tangalooma. A wildlife trip should excite my little boy and a country drive to the Sunshine Hinterland will be a great adventure for our family.

I would much prefer to pick a Brisbane accommodation in the city or Southbank on one weekend to enjoy the flea markets which is a great place to shop for some local arts and craft and food produce. Besides, I just found an online booking site that has lots of cheap hotels in Brisbane. It is not difficult to find a good Brisbane accommodation with the wide selections at Cheaper than Hotels. Hotels are all categorized in their star ratings or by regional location. Find other attractive deals at the site including Sydney hotels, Adelaide hotels, Perth Hotels and others.

u don't need to be a celebrity

One of the most enjoyable times I had during my last trip to Singapore was the opportunity to have a casual dinner with Jill and my good friend, yarris. It was a girly outing so that was even nicer! Jill has been an image consultant in the last 23 years so she is really an expert when it comes to dressing right and image management. I enjoyed hearing her witty answers to beauty questions and there was so much knowledge in her.

We also had a conversation on los angeles plastic surgeon as I was keen to learn her views on plastic surgery and beauty. It is becoming such a common thing to hear about celebs going for plastic surgery and young women opting for aesthetic surgery to look like magazine models. To many, being beautiful means having perfect features - big eyes, long lashes, sharp face features, sharp noses, flawless skin and a proportionate face. One of the highlights in Hollywood is to talk about what is the best beverly hills plastic surgery where luxury and style can be displayed in every aspect of the center. From the interiors to the service, plus the sort of procedures available, it looks like Rodeo Drive is the talk among media and the rich and famous. Offering services from los angeles breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck and their signature Mommy Makeover, it is a one-stop beauty place for those who can afford the luxury of Beverly Hills. Then again, you don't need to be a celebrity to patronize and in fact, everybody is treated like a celebrity at Rodeo Drive.

on beauty

Lately, I have been paying more attention on my colour scheme when it comes to dressing up. I guess I'm influenced by what I learned in the Image Asset management workshop conducted by Jill Lowe 2 weeks ago. Moreover, I will be conducting her workshop so I should take what she taught seriously.

One of the things I learned is that being beautiful is not about how expensive your clothes should be, what branded shoes you wore, how big that diamond ring is, what sort of makeup you use, how large those boobs are or how tall and slender you should look. I don't deny that I like designer stuff and would hop into designer sales every season. Like any other women, I would go for nice things, sparkling diamonds and flip the latest style magazines (when i find the time).

Many celebrities flock to los angeles plastic surgery to get those eyelids lifted, those botox injections, make the lips fuller or get a beverly hills liposuction to appear slimmer. I suppose they are also influenced by peers who shape those flat noses or schedule for a los angeles tummy tuck to fit in those skinny jeans. That's just a beauty culture in the entertainment industry.

I may be vain but honestly, I won't choose any of these surgeries cos I'm afraid of pain :) Besides, I believe in good diets, regular exercise and natural beauty. As much as I respect the vanities of some women, I wouldn't spend money to go through those painful procedures. The only thing I did that was close to fixing my face was to remove some moles on my face when I was in early 20s. That was also vanity... I was growing up. I do believe that the surgeries may be necessary for some women who need them to fix some facial disorders. Being women, our physical appearance does help to boost our confidence and self-esteem.

Anyone had any facial or beauty surgery before?

wanna go skiing?

I know summer holidays has just ended and you may think that it is too early to discuss about Christmas holidays. But if you are a seasoned traveler, you know August is not too early for that peak season, especially if you are planning for a ski vacation.

Here is your answer to a well-planned ski vacation at Whistler. Let's begin with a look at Whistler accommodation website that lists a huge collection of lovely ski retreats from 1 -10 bedroom properties at the location of your choice. The comprehensive website features Whistler lodging with nice photos and clear details of what to expect for the chosen accommodation, whether it's an apartment or a mountain townhome.



There are so many beautiful snow-covered properties that it is hard to decide which one is the best of the lot! But if I were to pick one, I would like one that has tall expansive views of the mountains and ski fields like the Northern Lights 16. This property is great for big groups as it comes with 5 bedrooms and sleeps up to 12 persons. A 5 min walk takes you to the slope and the village is just round the corner.

Let's travel Swiss

In 2004, we took a family trip to New Zealand for a month. One of the most memorable thing we did was the TranzAlpine trip that took us through Canterbury Plains, through the heart of Southern Alps; passing tunnels, untouched forests and spectacular gorges to the West Coast.



But there is one other train trip that I must take when I visit the Swiss Alps in the next few years. That is the Glacier Express which has won raving reviews from visitors and travelers from all over the world. And if I'm making a trip so far, I definitely have to include a few nights stay at the St Moritz, known for its luxury and exclusivity in every angle. It is a place coveted by those who seek privacy, relaxation and pure travel luxury and the truth is the hotels at St Moritz deliver their quality standards in excellent levels.



The Badrutt's Palace Hotel is one such example which is not only known for its luxury architecture and interiors but it is a legend and a landmark in this elegant town. I read that every room in Badrutt's Palace Hotel has a view of Lake St Moritz to the lovely snowy mountains behind it. I can imagine how breathtaking it would be to wake up to a view like this!

The best way to travel around Swiss cities, Swiss Alps and villages is to buy a SwissPass which allows you unlimited travel during your time of travel. All Swiss Passes include most of Swiss Travel System's public transport network including trains, boats and buses... not only will the Pass saves you time, it saves you money and adds convenience in your itinerary planning. You can purchase the Swiss Passes online prior to your travel and from the website, you can choose from the options available including the Swiss Pass, Swiss Flexi Pass, Swiss Card and the Swiss Transfer Ticket. These Passes provide value and are designed to suit your travel needs.

For more information on planning your Swiss vacation, check out: http://www.travel-swiss.co.uk

I'm back!

After running around for the last two days in Singapore for back-to-back meetings, I'm finally back in my home office. I was so busy that I couldn't find time to update my blogs as much as I like. Nevertheless, it was a fruitful trip with alot done. Let me grab a drink, answer all my emails and post some updates in the next couple of days.

a boat can make a difference

I am almost 100% certain that all of you who are reading this post have roof over your heads, food on your table, internet connection and a computer to surf and read my blog. I would like to ask a thought provoking question today.

Have you thought about those who don't have the above blessings you are enjoying today?

I hope that every one of us is involved in charity in some ways. Charity is not about how much you can give but it all begins with the heart and the willingness to make a difference in the lives of others. I just came to know about CarAngel, a wonderful ministry that accepts the donation of cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles and also boats and use the proceeds to bring hope and cheer to the many orphans around the world, homeless people, contribute to drug and teen rehab and other needy people and groups.

BoatAngel basically focuses on accepting the donation of boats, yachts and jetskis where the proceeds will be used to educate and give a new start to teens, men and women who were facing problems in life, homeless, struggling with drug addiction and other emotional or psychological problems. Through the BoatAngel Outreach Center, many lives had been touched, changed and transformed as they went through the guidance and mentoring of the Christian workers. Besides extending help to this special group, BoatAngel ministry has many programs to help those who are in need including providing funds for education, medical needs, discipleship training, production of children's DVDs to reach out to more children and parents and international emergencies.

You can be rest assured that a receipt be issued when your donation is made and BoatAngel website provides all the details on tax filing issues on your donation. So if you have a boat or know of someone who has a boat, and the boat is probably left to sit in the yard or garage, think about spreading hope through the ministry of BoatAngel. You don't even need to worry about towing. Just give a call or submit an online form to begin your act of love and kindness. Let your boat make a difference in someone's life today.

Another week has passed

This week has passed so quicky again. I found myself fighting for time to finish my outstanding design work for the Singapore office and balancing well between work and parenting. What's new? Then I almost sunk into a state of disappointment when something unpleasant happened few days ago. Well, July seemed like a rough month here and there but looking back, it was still awesome. I made some mistakes, bad decisions but that opened the door for more learning curves to be learned. I'm all geared up to spend half the week in Singapore in the most productive and fruitful way.

last but not least

Alright... I won't be boring you with my Hawaiian vacation planning after this post - promise :) I have enough information to draft out an itinerary after this. After discussing our vacation budget and preferences, DH and myself arrive to some agreement. I guess if I decide to include Maui, I won't be looking at those Maui vacation rentals and condos which cost up to $1,000 a night. $150 is still affordable and if I can find a nice one for less than that, it would be a delight! Wanna take a peek at the most luxurious property in my search? This is a 3 bedroom suite at Grand Wailea Resort, which overlooks the southern shores of Maui, a real luxury delight for vacationers with a big, big budget. A night's stay in this grand suite comes at a price of $14,338 and you need to pay 100% of this rate to hold the reservation! Wow!



All the Hawaiian travel tips I have gathered will be documented in my travel blog once they are properly organized. And if anyone needs help later, I'll be pleased to offer my advice. But, let's me complete my vacation first, k?

off to Singapore again

I'm off for another trip to Singapore tomorrow to meet a Manila event organizer whom we have been working with in the last two years. Then we have meetings scheduled with our Singapore business colleagues and I'll be meeting my image asset management speaker, Jill Lowe, for dinner. It sounds like a busy trip but I know it's going to be a good one. I need to take a break from my home office and other things. Maybe I need to do a little self reflection and possibly, to allow forgiveness to flow...

This is NOT a sponsored post!

The cool thing about myBlogLog is that you get to check out your visitors and sometimes, your spies too :) Spies? You ask. Yes - SPIES. These days, even the blogosphere has spies. These people go around checking you and behaving like 'police'. But they do it with an intention - to get you into trouble.

Let's get straight here. Like the adulterous woman who came to Jesus with a pot of expensive oil, she was not condemned but commended. Jesus asked the crowd who condemned her: If anyone who has no sin, you can throw your first stone.

So what I'm trying to say is: If you are so pure and holy, have committed no mistakes or are not guilty in any way, feel free to go around like a spy and get others into trouble. But if you are not perfect - then BACK OFF.

Maybe I am confusing some readers here but I'm just tired of people who think they are so good and so righteous when they are doing wrong in their own way. Anyway, I'm ranting again... and I do it for a reason. This blog is my personal space - and this is NOT a sponsored post.

benefits of colloidal silver

I'm thankful to be blessed with good skin. Though my freckles and brown spots are more visible than my younger years, I'm glad not to experience acne skin conditions or breakouts like some people do. I had dinner with my close friends last weekend and Mike was consulting image consultant, Jill, on some serious skin breakouts. He had been put on antibiotics for years and it seemed that the medications were working against him now.

I have read about how colloidal silver can help with acne skin. Research has shown that this is a powerful natural antibiotic that can kill hundreds of disease organisms. And it does not conflict with other medications or treatments. It is however necessary to ensure that the colloidal silver is made of silver particles and not silver ions. Mesosilver colloidal silvercolloidal silver is made of the smallest silver nanoparticles measuring less than 0.65nm with 80% concentration while others may only be 10%.

let's go shopping!

The first time I heard about Target Stores was when I travelled to Australia with my group of close girl friends. Target is one cool place to find good buys, contemporary and quality apparel and best of all, variety in a wide range of categories. It's a wonderful place to shop for gifts, homeware, children's clothing, toys and more.

But now, shopping in Target is as convenient as sitting back at the comforts of your home or your lounging chair. With online shopping being so prevalent in our urban culture, you don't have to drive your car, join the queue and cramp with the crowd. And online shopping has other added benefits like buying with coupon codes that help you save. There is a Target coupon that saves you $5 off a $50 purchase.

For jewelry lovers, check out Blue Nile coupons that offers free shipping for your orders. For Body Shop fans, there are few attractive Body Shop coupons that brings more savings for your skin and body care needs.

wedding and party favours

I can't resist cute and nice things. I am a designer, you see so I pay close attention to details and little touches. One of the things I enjoy doing is to help to prepare wedding favours for friends' weddings or organize party favors for birthdays and special occasions. I remembered wrapping more than 200 wedding favours for my wedding 7 years ago - it was hard work! If only I knew about Purple Soup earlier, I would look more radiant and less stressed on my big day!



This one-stop candy wrappers and favours online store has more creative products than you can think or imagine. With lovely illustrations and artistic designs, there are wrappers and items for all sorts of joyous occasions and celebrations - bridal shower, weddings, baby annoucements, holidays, anniversaries, school events and more. There are also favour boxes for your candies and goodies or you may like to check out the artistic paint cans. Choose from hershey chocolates and nestle crunch for your goodies and prices include these yummies too.



From now til 18 August, the store offers free shipping on purchases above $20.

should I include Kailua Kona?

I am just thinking if Kailua should be included in our itinerary for our Hawaii vacations and if I don't, will we miss something wonderful? If I decide to do too much, we won't be able to take time to explore and discover places. So, I do need to be selective and obey the law of sacrifice. Less is 'More' at times, if you know what I mean.

But should I include Kailua Kona into the itinerary, there is no shortage of affordable Kailua ocean front rental available. You can get a nice one bedroom ocean view condo below $300 and if there are 4 persons travelling, the cost per person can even be more reasonable. The good thing with condos is that you get the home away from home feel and it is less congested, more spacious and somehow, less restrictive.

Well, after looking at the vacation rentals, I may just changed my mind and include Kailua into my travel list.

a need to recharge and unwind

They told me that if I visit Kauai, I must visit the Hanalei beach which is known for its white sand and tall waterfalls that flows from the high mountains. It is situated at the northern part of Kauai and Hanalei Bay is known for it’s surfing, walking, swimming, sailing, boating, fishing and a variety of other fun activities. From the Hawaii travel information, the featured accommodaton is the Hanalei bay resort which overlooks beautiful Hanalei Bay on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. This 22 acre tropical paradise features tropical gardens and flowers, waterfalls, cascading pools, and access to one of Hawaii's most beautiful secluded white sand beaches. With a studio room that starts from $175 per night, it looks like this is a good place to relax and unwind. The room has a balcony that overlooks the ocean which makes it a perfect spot to read a book while putting the daily stresses behind you. I think this is the way to recharge and rejuvenate in a vacation.

Sometimes, I can be so caught up with the city life that I have forgotten to take things a little easier and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds me. I must remind myself that it's a vacation and I should realign my priorities and focus.

I never heard of Kihei

Ok dokes.. so I never heard of Kihei but after all my research, I found out that this is a nice town located on the western edge of Maui in Hawaii. In the 60's, Kihei is far from today where you find plenty of accommodations and activities. Development has grown exponentially over the years and the city is buzzing with life today. Apart from the wide selection of Kihei homes, nice hotels and restaurants, Kihei also boasts a number of excellent beaches, ocean swimming, scuba diving and other water activities. Kihei is a 5 to 10 minutes drive from Wailea and a 20 to 30 minutes drive from Lahaina. For those who love marine life, the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is a great place to visit, offering education and information about the humpback and other aquatic wildlife.

According to the Hawaii vacation information, the best way to see most of Kihei is to either rent a car, or if you prefer, at least rent a bicycle or Moped. Otherwise, you miss so much. I heard that another great way to soak up some local culture is to try the local food. Sounds like a nice place to hang about if I have some extra time in our itinerary.

do you like gold?

The Mauboussin shop opened up in KLCC last year and being a Melium group member, I receive regular periodicals from the fashion chain. So whenever there is a postcard from Mauboussin announcing the latest collection, I will be tempted to pop by the shop for a look-see. For more than a year, I didn't have the chance til last week, when we had our event in Mandarin Oriental Hotel, next to KLCC.

Usually, I'm not a fan of yellow gold but I must say that the ones at Mauboussin are uniquely different.What I really like is the pink gold collection though they look awful on my tanned skin. Whether it's white, yellow or pink gold, the value of this precious metal continues to appreciate over the years. They are symbols of wealth, good fortune and luxury. While today's modern women prefer investing in gold jewelry, the mature folks choose to invest on gold bars or gold coins. With the advent of internet technology, buying gold can be done online at the convenience of your home now. Companies like Monex Deposit Company (MDC) will conduct the transaction and arrange the gold to be delivered to your doorstep unless you prefer to arrange for safe depository storage. Maybe I should look into investing in gold instead of the malls.

mauboussin 'moi aimer toi'

Last week, I sneaked out of Mandarin Oriental hotel to buy a gift for my speaker and his wife. As usual, I would do a quick window browse as I walked towards the gift shop. For a long time, I have wanted to step inside the Mauboussin store in KLCC but just never had the chance but that day, I didn't know what happened but I stopped at the window display and was invited to step in.

Well, I told the sales assistant that I only had 5 minutes to browse so she showed me this cute ring with an artistic floral flair. I put it on and honestly, I was tempted to pull out my credit card. But I was also 'sober' enough to give it back to her cos the ring was almost RM8K!! For a white gold ring with a 0.15 carat diamond in the middle, that was luxury shopping! I knew I would be paying for the trusted brand and quality of Mauboussin but still, I couldn't bring myself to make that purchase.

I walked out of the shop politely and was so glad I exercised some self control :) Look at the ring - nice or not?

what kind of holiday do you prefer?

I know my DH will frown at my proposal of picking a Hawaii beach front property as our base. He always have this impression that beachfront means expensive and extravagant but this is not always true. If you take your time to find and compare, you are likely to end up with a good enough beach front accommodation that fits your budget. Also, you need to find a comprehensive online travel site that provides you with wide range of options. First and foremost, determine your budget per night and from there, you can list down your options and compare the features of the hotel or condo. Be prepared to pay a little more for new properties and luxurious furnishings. For some, location is key and they prefer to be near amenities, dining and shopping. Others may like a little privacy and be tucked away from the crowd and noise.

Call me a shopping freak or city girl but I prefer to spend some nights near amenities and a few away from commercialism. At least I get to experience both styles when I Hawaii beach fronttravel Hawaii and have a balanced vacation. What about you? What do you prefer?

heavenly sea

In the Hawaiian language, Lanikai means "royal sea" or "heavenly sea." It can't be wrong when the locals have voted Lanikai for being the best swimming beach. When I read that Lanikai beach is blessed with beautiful sunshine, surrounded by lush tropical plants and turquoise waters, I can imagine how scenic this place can be to sit back and unwind.

Understanding from the Hawaiian travel information, Lanikai is situated at the windwide side of Oahu and it is almost a must to kayak to the nearby twin islands to experience the gorgeous seascape and natural bird sanctuaries. Both islands are popular among boaters, surfers, paddlers and kayakers with many coming to the smaller beach for picnics or a nice swim on the weekends. Choose from mountain views, garden views or ocean views, the apartments found in Lanikai are reasonable and affordable with a studio apartment starting from $135 per night.



The Banyan Hideaway looks like a charming vacation home that can accommodate up to 5 persons with Bali settings and decor to lure you into an instant break from the hustle and bustle of life. These are only 2 of the many excellent vacation homes in Lanikai... now, it is hard to make a choice.

planning for our hawaii vacations

Since the last couple of months, I have been building my travel blog very slowly. I wish I can do more but time is just so scarce these days. With 5 blogs to manage, an upcoming image asset management workshop and a public seminar in Singapore end October, I have so much on my plate. What I really want is to sit down and start planning for our Hawaii vacations, compare accommodations, decide which are the better properties that wouldn't kill our pockets and read more Hawaiian tourist info on the web.

I'm glad to find a blog that focuses on Hawaii where I can read more about the various islands including Maui, the Big Islands, Oahu, Kihei and more. The blog also contains recommendations of things to do for tourists, families or honeymooners. With so many properties found on the travel website, it is easy to find an activity that suits the family including cultural shows, island hopping, helicopter rides, kayaking, surfing....etc.

It looks like I have to squeeze time for my planning when the boy is asleep and the night is quiet... then I may be too tired to check rates and read about hotel features.

children loves water play

Which little kid doesn't enjoy splashes of water in the pool? For whatever reason, children enjoys water play and water parks, swimming floats and suits. Two weeks ago, we took Clayton to the pool at Mandarin Oriental after our event and he had such a great time. I was sitting by the edge of the pool watching my little boy and couldn't helped but smiled at his innocence. He stood at the water feature, splashing water for half hour.. nothing else. It was that easy to make him happy and contented. He looked so cute in his swimming suit... I knew I had to spend a few more moments adoring him before he took off in the pool in a few years' time!

budget that fits

I have yet to discuss our vacation budget with DH but of hand (in my head), it looks like the bulk of the expenses is going to accommodations since the ringgit is kinda weak after conversion. Looking at a range of not more than $150 per night, I can forget about stainless steel spacious kitchen, nice quality leather or suede lounging sofas, jacuzzi spa in the bathroom or large balconies at high floors. But it all depends on location and islands too.

For instance, Maui condos are cheaper than Waikiki ones for the same specs and features. So I would need to balance up our accommodation options and search very carefully. I tend to be fussy when it comes to living space. I don't like old condos or hotels, a little modernity and style would be great. Above all, cleanliness and hygiene remains a top priority especially when we are having such a long holiday. I don't I'll have much problems getting a nice condo as my part of our Hawaii travel plans. With more than 50 pages of options on the online booking site, you can easily find one that fits your criteria and budget.

This 2 bedroom at Kapalua resort is an excellent one but it is way above my budget... $759 per night!

how it started...

Someone asks me, why pick hawaii for our vacation? Here is the story...

Few months ago, my husband and I were both sitting in a restaurant waiting for our food to arrive. I picked up a Holiday Destination magazine and started flipping through the pages of beautiful beaches, luxury resorts and hotels, great holiday ideas and lovely sceneries and there was a feature on Hawaii beach accommodations with lots of useful resources on Hawaii vacation info.

Then my husband asked, "So where are we going this year for our family holiday"? Before I could answer, he said, "I wanna go to Hong Kong for a long holiday. I stared straight into his eyes and gave him a puzzled look. I mean, I love Hong Kong. It's a gourmet and shopping haven. But I never thought about going there for a LONG holiday. So I asked, "How long is long"? He couldn't replied me and I knew he didn't know what he was talking about.

I told him, "I'll like to revisit Hawaii". I was only 23 years old when I first visited this lovely place and I truly miss it. My husband didn't not respond to my answer but he knew I was serious. I took that talk seriously and since, I started planning and researching whenever I had some time in my hands. And I'm just so glad he hasn't changed his mind... you know how men are...:)

What do you use your blog for?

What do you use your blog for? A personal space to hide away and pen your thoughts, share your findings, resources, tips and communicate with your cyber friends, families and other buddies? Generally, if you have an active blog, you must have a certain interest in writing, sharing and networking. Like my DH, he struggles with maintaining and updating his blog... what I wrote in 15 minutes would take him 50 minutes. Then he'll get bored and write his next post few days or one week later. Some people just don't like blogging.

What about you? What inspire you to blog? To make money? To know more people or do you use it as an outlet for your thoughts? I use to keep my sanity, as a personal space and not forgetting, to make some money for my personal needs.

i need help for my itnerary

I think I am needing some help here with my itinerary planning. It's not easy to start when my thoughts are in all places, resources all bookmarked on my MacBook, suggestions and reviews from many others.

I'm going to try out the itinerary search available at Hawaiian beach rentals, a one-stop travel resource to find all kinds of Hawaiian travel info. Or if I like, I can even talk to a local expert by filling out a customized itinerary submission form to fit into my requirements. Basically, this is like getting travel advice from a local travel agent without the need to pick up the phone. Doing the planning online can save time and hassle and money too :)

Well, the thing with consulting local experts on when you travel Hawaii is that you get real and updated advices. Books and magazines may not give you news that are current especially when it comes to activities and special discounts on accommodations. Oh well, I better go fill in my requests... I better start my planning.

holiday planning in progress

Now that our big event is over, I would like to spend more time reading up Hawaii vacation reviews and articles as I plan for our family vacation in December. First and foremost, I need to check out our air tickets flying to Hawaii then to Los Angeles. With the visa application and all, it looks like I have more planning to do :)

Actually, I am so excited to see the new Hawaii since my last trip was dated more than 10 years ago! It looks like no trips to Hawaii is complete without visiting Waikiki. No matter what has been said about its commercialism, this is one place that makes me want to revisit this place of lovely sunshine and endless beauty. I captured the best sunset at Waikiki and that was a memorable experience.

If anyone has a good itinerary to recommend, please drop me a comment. I love real life traveller's suggestions and opinions.

irritated and upset

I'm feeling a little irritated and upset with some news I received from my blogging JeeMui, Shoppingmum... and in order not to stir up more anger, I rather not elaborate the details.

Why can't people mind their own business, earn their money, write their blogs and leave others alone to do the same? Why must they try so hard to harm others just so that they can stand a chance to earn another $5, $10 or maybe $50 more. I call this group of people - EFND - and this is an abbreviation that is to be shared with my close blogging buddies. In life, there is more to just insulting others, getting others into trouble and being a sore loser.

I am ranting cos' I'm sick to the stomach... I am truly annoyed with people who think so highly of themselves when they are too lousy and timid to compete fairly.

let's get detailed with curtain poles

When it comes to home decoration details, DH thinks I'm fussy. It's hard not to pay attention to details because I'm a designer :) Take for instance, I wanted to choose the curtain poles for the bedroom and he thought it was a waste of time. He told me no one would bother looking at those poles!

The thing is curtain poles can make a difference too. It can complement the curtains and bedroom or downplay your splendid curtain designs. So you really need to take time to shop for the right ones. Do you know there are several kinds of curtain poles? There are metal ones, wooden ones, bay window ones, extendable poles and net rails... there you go!

golf and my DH

Sometimes, I am actually quite amazed at my husband's interests in the topic of golfing. Though he had stopped golfing for years, he still watch PGA tour programs and read about golf news updates. He can discuss golf related topics with his male friends, even to the point of suggesting where to buy golf cart parts to some of his golfing friends. He told me that he used to not only play golf but eat and sleep with golf previously. Interestingly, his love for golf took a change when he was playing under the scorching sun one day and since, he gave up golfing... that was it. Funny right?

a fruitful trip in Singapore - business & leisure

It's the last day of the month and I just returned from Singapore. This had been one of the most fruitful trips for me - business and leisure. Business: I attended a fabulous workshop with top image consultant, Jill Lowe; met with my internet marketing buddy, Stuart and my lovely friend, Jacklyn. For leisure: I had a splurge at Tiffany and Marc by Marc Jacobs, and a local designer shop, Womb. (Don't tell me hubby - lol)

It was nice catching up with my old friends, yarris and mike too, who babysitted Clayton, along with their wonderful daughters. I only wish I can catch up with few others.