Back to Home Office - Internet is Up!

sunset in Taiwan

Finally, my internet connection in the home office is up and running after two long weeks! Well, it has been bad since we got back from Taiwan and finally, it's up tonight. As such, I managed to upload my Taiwan trip photos in Facebook... it's been so long!

Now that school has started for most kids, work at home moms can now have the peace of mind when they get down to their home businesses. Whew! Is that a relief or what? I do enjoy spending time with my boy during the school holidays but at some point, he was getting bored from lack of activities and became very disruptive. It can be irritating on some days. Boys will always be boys. They need stimulation, play time, attention, adventure, activities.... oh dear, it's hard to keep up to his demands when I'm a work at home mom! So December was an unproductive month for me as far as home office work is concerned. But now that we are in the New Year, it's time to get back to business!



I was looking through a friend's recent wedding photos and he was looking so good in his tuxedo suit. That reminds me that this year is our 10th year wedding anniversary. I am hoping that we can go to Hokkaido for a little celebration but it's still too soon to talk about it now.

Well, in two weeks' time, I would have more time in the home office when after school program begins for Clayton. He is looking forward to it and so do I. That's it for now... I better get some work finished while the internet is up and running!

Love To Be a Work at Home Mom Again in 2010

If you are a work at home mom, you would need to equip yourself with the necessary home equipment for better efficiency. For now, I'm thankful to have a good laptop to work on and all I need is more space to move around in this little home office.

There won't be much changes in the home office as we don't plan to be here a year's time so I'll work with what I have now/ The new Acer Aspire is impressive and sometimes, I wish I had bought my netbook later! Then again, there'll always be better, slimmer and nicer laptops and electronic devices.

DH surprised me with an iPhone last month which I had to return due to some slight defects. But I managed to claim this 'birthday gift' at the Taiwan airport. I can now finally agree with all the iPhone fans the wonders of this little mobile gadget. I have since been able to catch up with news updates from my hometown and not having to rely on the local papers, which is full of crap most of the time.

Moving forward, it's nice to be a work at home mom again in 2010 and I hope to keep doing that in the next 5, 10 or 15 years! Loving the home office every minute... except school holidays!

Work at Home Mom in 2010

It's a new year, a new beginning that brings new hopes, dreams and aspirations for all of us! I'm not 'big' on setting goals on a New Year but yes, I do set my mind to achieve a list of things. This year, I will continue to work at home as I foresee a busier schedule with the move in place by the end of 2010.

With the change in the kindy hours this year, I will have more time in the home office to complete my work before Clayton comes home. This is going to be exciting for him as he starts K2 before starting Year One in Christian Outreach College in Brisbane.

We have yet to decide if we should organize another event this year before the big move. Personally, I'd rather focus on my online business but I'll go along with the situation anyhow. There will be much to do especially with the packing and preparing myself psychologically to live in a new city. But it's something I look forward to.

The last trip to Brisbane was a short but good prep for me emotionally as I haven't been back to down under since 2003. I managed to get a few things in place - opening a tax file, a bank account, taking a tour in COC and looking around in the brissie neighbourhood. To live in a big state like Queensland, you need get a list of good emergency contacts such as 24 hour towing, medical assistance...etc.

So the new year is here and the work at home mom warms up the momentum in the home office!

Work At Home Recalls On Taiwan Trip

After all the traveling, the work at home mom is back home! Though I haven't quite successfully become productive in the home office, I manage to clear up some stuff before the New Year begins.

We had a great time in Taiwan. The farm resorts were an eye opener. What I enjoyed most during the farm resort stay was the organic and natural vegetables we ate at the Bo Yun Farm. Though the room wasn't that modern and the pillows were too soft for my sensitive neck, the memories of the simple pace in Hualien continued to linger.

Taipei city was better than expected. It wasn't the high end shops I was referring to but the night markets were good. After a conversation with a Taiwanese friend, she told me the quality and prices of goods found in most of the night markets were very good. At least, I was assured that I won't be cheated or ripped off like in any China markets! I even bought a pair of Birkenstocks in Dan Shui Lao Jie (old street). It was at least 30% cheaper than what I would pay for in this region.

As we were following a tour itinerary, the journey was tiring despite toilet stops along the way. We visited Yeliu, Hualien, Taipei and were greeted by a bout of cold winds and rain during that week. The bus didn't have any safety harness for kids so I had to watch out for my boy who liked to stand on the seat to watch Shaun the Sheep video.

On the overall, we had alot of fun in Taiwan and the trip had brought nice memories for us. I hope to make another trip before we move end next year and this time, we'll know what to buy and where to go. Now, it's time for the work at home mom to take time to plan for my 2010 goals.

Back To The Home Office After Vacation

After two weeks of being away from my home office, I'm back again. For me, it is a good time cos I can get away from the normal routine, even though I fell ill during the trip.

Not too sure why but I'm feeling a need to take a break from things. I want to get out of this country and I'm tired of many things. Slow internet connection, inefficiency, polluted air, to name a few. I feel mentally relieved each time I'm back in my mom's home though I need to bear with her nags and set ways.

This trip, it's not so much of a 'vacation' of shopping and eating but slowing down, taking time to feel comfortable of the place, the lifestyle in down under and my personal sentiments. Clayton was very happy in the bush, roaming about with his butterfly net and chasing Scud among the trees. He misses his cousins in Toowoomba and had a great time with them even though they are a little younger than him.

Some people prefer to go far for vacations, hopping from costa rica to the exclusive islands. But for me, it can be just some peace and quietness in a house tucked in the bush, with only voices of kookaburras. If only there's some rain, the wallabies will be dancing in the bush. But I'm sure I'll see them someday when I revisit the bush again.

So it's now back to the mundane of work, parenting and the regular work flow in the home office. And yes, it's the weekends, time to unpack everything before another packing for our Taiwan trip.

Back to Home Office Next Week

It's quite hard to believe but in a twinkle of an eye, my vacation is coming to an end and it's back to the home office in few days' time.

My trip to Brisbane and the Gold Coast has been a great one. Despite some little hiccups on my health, God has been good and the trip has been wonderful. I'm thankful for the good people that God has brought along my way - hubby's cousin, my cousins in toowoomba and my dear friends in Loganholme. They have been great in showing their kindness, thoughtfulness, hospitality and care.

Clayton had a ball of a time in the bush and playing with his cousins in toowoomba. He enjoyed the beach at Gold Coast though it took him a while to warm up to it. The swimming lessons he had been attending had sure granted him some water confidence!

I managed to get connected throughout the trip. The internet connection in Australia is at an amazing speed of 54 Mb! No worries on downloading and uploading at all. I only wish my home office has got a speed half of this! Becos I had my netbook, I don't need to use the industrial computer or lobby computer at the hotel in broadbeach. Getting connected is affordable and easy at the Gold Coast. Only thing was, we didn't have a car so local bus was what we traveled with. They were very reliable I must say and the drivers were ever so helpful and patience with questions.

Well, they say 'all good things must come to an end'. I know the vacation is ending but I know it has done enough to get me ready for our move next year. By then, a home office will be born... somewhere in Brissy.

Work at Home Writing From the Bush

I arrive at the bush two days ago. IT may seem funny that I have called it a bush but it's true, DH cousin's house is really in the bush! What a way to take a break for the work at home mom!

We drove one km of tall trees and wild bushes before reaching the white house. What a nice house in a natural surrounding. I know it's going to be a nice place to relax and unwind.

The property is about 5.5 acres so you can imagine how much space there is. Clayton had a great time roaming around with Scud the dog and it must be exciting for him. Being a city and urban boy, waking up to a natural surrounding of bushes isn't something common. My cousin's property had a couple of garages where my cousin's hubby stores his Mopar parts and there's even a camping tent where the kids set up for a fun escapade! Clayton can't wait to hang around inside.

This afternoon, we will be visiting Clayton's new school. Since I'm here, I thought it would be a great idea to visit the place. He is excited and so am I. I'm fighting with this bad cold and really want to get well real soon!

All Ready for Brisbane and Gold Coast

It has been a very busy weekend since yesterday. My day started early and ended till late. For some reasons, my schedule tends to clutter before any overseas trip!

I managed to finish 90% of my packing a while ago except for a few little things here and there. As I'm traveling alone with Clayton for a good two weeks, I need to work out my luggage and baggage details to avoid having to carry too much on my own. I'm one person who don't like to travel with a heavy luggage, especially when I'm by myself. I can't be expecting my 5 year old to assist in anything! Planning the logistics is key for this trip. But I know it will all work out with all the help I'm going to get in Brisbane and Gold Coast.

I'm always very careful with drinking water when I travel since I have a sensitive throat. At home, we have a RO water dispenser and so I tend to take things for granted. I remembered checking out so many water filters few years ago when we were planning to buy one, from 4396510 to distillers. With the heat wave going on down under, I must make sure we are drinking adequate water to stay hydrated.

So, I'm all ready to go except for a few errands I need to run before the flight tomorrow night. There are also some assignments to finish the next few days. Oh... all I know is that I need some sleep to get my mind refreshed and my body rejuvenated tomorrow!

School Holidays Have Offically Begun!

School has finally ended and the holidays have officially begun! I can hear the silent laments of the work at home moms and dads but well, it's time for the children to get their well deserved break after a hard year's work in school!

Finally, the kids can sleep in, sleep late, play and relax. Most children will enjoy watching tv or playing computer games. Others would still be attending enrichment classes and tuition. Maybe the sale of PSP, electronic games, Bluray dvd players or DVDs will increase this holiday season as parents try to occupy their children with all kinds of clean entertainment.

Clayton's school term ended with a Garden Theme Party. I made him a realy simple ladybug t-shirt just so that he won't feel left out! I am not in to costumes and thus, I would opt for a simple project. Kids don't really care much about what they are going to wear, it's the parents, who strive to make their kids stand out. I'm just too lazy to bother myself with all the sewing and crafting. I know that he will have fun anyways :)

Then it's parents-teachers meeting before the school takes a break for two weeks. I would need to start my packing after tomorrow. Though I'm not planning to bring too much to Oz, I still need to make sure I don't forget anything!

That's it for now from the work at home mom and I'm now off to do some cooking before the boys come home.

Bargain Accommodation for Online Travel

Few days ago, I found out that the Page Rank of this 'Work at Home Mom' blog of mine had returned. It came as a shock for me as the blog's PR had been stripped for almost 2 years or maybe longer!

Well, I don't exactly know why but it's still good news for me that big G has lifted the penalty off this blog. Hopefully it stays this way even though I am not really bothered by it anymore.

This morning, I'm busy checking out some last minute airfares for my trip next week. I just realized I made a mistake in my itinerary and now, I would need to do some rebooking - sigh! This is a busy season for the airline industry despite the gloomy economy. A couple of my good friends are leaving for Tokyo early december and many of my girl friends are off to Hong Kong end of this month. With the convenience of online hotel booking, it is easy to book normal hotels and bargain accommodation with the click of a button. From nassau hotels in the Bahamas to bed and breakfast inns in New Zealand, everything can be done online now.

If you are not sure where to begin searching, you can compare hotels at SearchYourHotel.com and find the best deals among 30+ booking sites. I'm sure many work at home moms already know this but if you are still new to online accommodation, you will be amazed by its sheer convenience and ease of use!

A Busy Month for Work at Home Moms

Yes! One more week to go and the work at home mom is off for a vacation break!

Though it isn't going to be a long break but still, I'm glad to be back in brisbane and Gold Coast. There are some errands to run this time including paying a visiting to Christian Outreach College, the school that Clayton will attend in 2011 and opening a tax file and bank account. I can't wait to catch up with Rebecca, our brissy cousin and my other girl cousin in Toowoomba.

It should be very nice for Clayton as it would be his first visit to Queensland. I told him all about his cousins in toowoomba and he can't wait to meet them. I'm planning to take him to SeaWorld and DreamWorld besides lazing at the beaches in Broadbeach and Surfers. It would be great if DH is with us cos I'm sure we'll have lots of family fun at the beaches.

December is going to be a busy month for me. It's time for the work at home mom to unwind and slow things down. I can't help it cos it's school holidays and I don't want to let the TV or computer be the babysitters.

For some working moms, they would be busy with getting more health insurance leads before the year comes to a close. It's time for meeting targets and reaching new goals.

If you aren't planning to travel, consider taking your children out to the park for a picnic or doing some fun things together in the outdoors. This would be a good break for the work at home mom as she steps out to do things and to be away from her laptop and office. Start planning!

Work at Home Mom Looks Forward to Her Vacation

Few days ago, a little idea came to the work at home dad when he was driving. See, our internet connection has been seriously bad for the last couple of years. Believe it or not, we have tried almost very broadband provider but yet, we are getting snail crawl speed every other day. It is frustration when you work from home in the home office.

So my other half decided to move the modem to our bedroom since we are on wireless and lo and behold, the signal started to improve! Since, we are getting more stable connection and at least, we can get our work done without the frustration of waiting for sites to be uploaded in front of our laptops.

School holidays will be here in two weeks' time and my son's after school program will stop by this week. All work at home parents know that parenting has to be one of the best best fat burner! And it's natural :) But the holidays are going to be kinda fun with a birthday party coming up for my boy and a vacation to down under. I'm excited to stay in the bush for a few days, then to the hills before heading off to the beaches! It sounds like fun. One thing I learned, book budget airlines early cos it will save heaps!

There is much to do before the work at home mom heads off for a break. The aussie dollar is so strong now so it looks like my shopping budget will be reduced tremendously after the exchange rate. Then again, it's not the shopping I'm looking forward but catching up with family and friends, while relaxing and reflecting in the last months of the year.

School Holidays Coming for Work at Home Moms and Dads

This is the last month of school term and in few weeks' time, the school holidays will begin. It is also a busy month for most work at home moms and dads as the kids get off school and that would mean less quality time can be spent in the home office.

Despite the economic downturn, I know of many friends who are taking their kids overseas. For those who can afford, the selections include orlando vacations to a Europe tour. But short trips like beach getaways and family holidays in Hong Kong, Japan and even Australia are also popular. I miss the fun and sun in Australia, really. I miss the space, the slow pace and outdoor adventures. Most of all, I need to get away from the routine and hustle and bustle of urban life.

Some work at home moms have no plans of any vacation or travel. That would mean planning activities for the children so that they are occupied and not become bored with nothing to do. I know that some of my friends are already registering their kids for holiday camps and such during the year end school holidays.

Perhaps, this is also a good time to wind down for all work at home moms and dads as the year comes to a close. It's a time to reflect, recollect and refresh as you make plans for the home business for the new year ahead.

Holiday Cards for Families and Friends

I know this is a very busy month for those who are planning for Christmas parties and holiday celebrations. And for those in the US, thanksgiving is not too far from now too. One of the things I enjoy as a work at home mom is to create photo cards during the holiday season and send them to families and friends across the miles. Having said that, I don't always find time to do that.

The internet has made it so easy for people to stay in touch. Designing and ordering an online card is so convenient that there isn't any excuse for anyone not to keep in touch. In fact, you can get personal and order some holiday photo cards to add that special touch to your holiday greetings too.

I like to do that cos I can send a photo of our family to our overseas families - it's meaningful and special. If you have some time, designing your own holiday card isn't that hard as long as you have a printer and designing software. I know that there are many simple DIY softwares around that you can set up easily.



But if work is taking a toll of your schedule then get online and order them. They are inexpensive and affordable. Staying in touch requires efforts and a little of your time. After all, it's the holiday season so celebrate it and have fun.

Work At Home Mom Looks Forward to Year End

Since the line has been good these few mornings, I thought I would post a couple of photos from Clayton's 5th birthday party. It's frustrating for anyone who is working from home when the internet line is far from perfect. And the thing is, I am not even asking for perfection!

With less than two months to Christmas, it's time to do some spring cleaning in the home office too. Plus I'm heading for a trip end November so I need to finish up some new projects for my internet bsuiness. There are still other errands to take care of such as renewing the home insurance, car insurance, health insurance... there seems to be no end to these things sometimes :)

I'm looking forward to a nice break - something that a work at home mom or dad does at the end of every year. Life can be demanding with the entire year of maintaining that balancing act.

Before things change for the internet, I better get some photos posting for now!

Earn Money From Home: Thanks to Technology

With the advent of technology, it is now possible to earn money from home. This is good news for many moms who endeavor to work from home so that they can spend quality time with their children.

I have been thankful to work at home for the last seven years and last week, we just finished our last workshop for the year. It has been a challenging year for our seminar business but God is faithful. He never fails to provide. Since the workshop is a of a small scale, I was the babysitter in the hotel room at Grand Millennium while DH kept watch during the program most of the two days.

Clayton had a great time at the wading pool though it was a short one. I am truly glad that he's gained water confidence and was enjoying himself diving in and out of the pool. I apologize that I haven't been able to post some event photos here in this blog for the last few posts as my internet connection has been pathetic. It was absolutely a pain uploading even a small photo onto this blog! I can't even do my keyword research for any niche including weight loss pill and some diet programs.

Now that the workshop is over, I'm back to full focus on my online business and projects. Though my monthly earnings have been lower than last year, I'm still thankful that I can earn money from home and be full time with my boy. This is to me, a great blessing that I truly thank God for.

Work At Home Mom Gets Busy With Birthday Celebration

Finally, the busy week of preparing for Clayton's birthday celebration in school and the water park is over. I have been juggling with my work at home duties and getting those party bags/favors and gifts ready, ordering food for the guests... I didn't know that planning for a birthday party requires so much work!

All we can say is that, we made the right decision to have Clayton's first birthday party at The Club @ Bukit Utama. The water park is enough to keep the kids busy and all we need to do is to make sure the food arrives on time and that everyone is happy.

DH and myself went to Chinatown for some kids' toys shopping days before the party and I was amazed that there were so many toys (imitation) available at the shops in chinatown. They were much cheaper than those in the retail stores cos they were mostly for wholesale. We managed to buy some nice favors for the party.

Clayton was so happy that we brought some yummy cupcakes for his school celebration and on his party day, he had a Ben10 cake. He was a happy boy. Most of all, he was so happy that he could have his friends partying with him at the water park last Saturday.

With all this planning to do for the work at home mom, I haven't been writing and updating my sites in the last couple of weeks. So this week, it will be back to work with a workshop leading up towards the weekends. It's been a challenging year for our offline business and yet, God has been so good to us in bringing in the numbers in the last couple of weeks.

In the next few months, many of you will be away for your family vacation and breaks. Whether it's a vacation or a city break, it's good to take time to spend some time with your loved ones as the holiday season draws near. It's time for all work at home moms to wind down too as we usher into the new year in a couple of months' time. It's a time to reflect and renew, to refresh and restore.

Work at Home Mom's busy schedule

The last couple of weeks have been very very busy for me. Working at home makes it even busier when there is a long list of things to do.

In less than two weeks time, Clayton turns 5 and for the first time, we will be celebrating his birthday with a group of his friends. He is excited. I have ordered a customized Ben 10 cake as per his request and the fun will begin at The Club at Bukit Utama. The water park is just the right place to keep the kids busy and occupied. It is going to be fun fun fun!

I have been so busy with new work at home projects that I don't even have time to confirm the food list for the party! Bad mommy! Then I still need to find out the life insurance quote for the family, not forgetting those party packs for the occasion.



Last weekend, we had a wonderful outing at Skytrex Adventures in Shah Alam. I have never been to an obstacle course like this in a forest and it was real fun. Clayton was so brave to go on the flying fox for a few times though he didn't make it through in the Little Adventures. A group of us did the Big Thrill which took us a few obstacles at 17m height and it was just so cool. I can't wait to take on the Extreme Adventure in the near future. ( I promise to post some pictures and video when the internet line is better)

Sometimes, weekend outings like this is so good for work at home moms cos it takes us out there and experience the outdoors. The obstacle course conquers the mental fears and challenges us to do things beyond our expectations.

I've got to get back to work again before heading to Souled Out for a mid autumn dinner. Clayton is going to miss having Jamie there :)

Do Your Best as a Work at Home Mom

The boy has gone to school this morning and finally I can sit down and start some real work today. Time is so important for any work at home mom as you need to plan your schedule well throughout the day. You can't help but be a multi tasker.

For all mothers, we are extremely anxious when our children are not well as that will affect our work, life and routine. I'm thankful for healthcare professionals and health insurance for without these, anxieties can be more. These days, people are searching for low cost health insurance especially with the current economy. It is good that in Asia, we are seeing signs of recovery but according to many financial experts, this may not be that rosy after all.

Whatever it may be for the economy outlook, life needs to go on and we just have to do our best in whatever we are placed to do. If you are a work at home mom, work at it with all your heart and be the best that you can be. For stay at home moms, your hands are just as full so make the best of your time and be good at it too!

Work at Home Mom and the Raya Break

I was too shocked to hear that the school would be closed for six days including the weekends for the Raya holidays. For the work at home moms, that was sure a not-so-good news! Six days at home would mean six days of off days from the home office. Know what I mean?

Coming from Singapore, it was hard to accept impromptu holidays like that. Singapore schools normally follow the school calendar and they don't shut for no rhyme or reason. Anyways, I decided to make the best out of it and enjoy the 'long holidays' with my active boy around. We did quite alot of things - playing junior scrabble, junior monopoly, build blocks, play educational games on the computer, had dinners with his favourite uncle and even went for a picnic at Lakeside Gardens with some friends yesterday. It wasn't easy keeping him occupied every hour but we made it after five straight days!

It is a wonder how kids have so much energy that they sure need no fat burner like adults do! They can keep going on and on and not knowing what the word 'tired' means. Or maybe my boy is just one of them. He is so energetic and it's even funnier when he tells me that 'rest is boring!'

Well, it's one more day for the raya holidays for his school. I'm thankful that the school has chosen not to shut for a whole week. So one more day of late wakings and all day play and school will resume on Thursday. It would also mean the work at home mom gets back to her home office with no interruptions and not having to juggle between his computer games and my online work.

Little Pleasures for the Work at Home Mom

I've been reading a few books by Dr James Dobson in the last few months. He is someone I respect and I have learned alot from his books and video on discipline, parenting, marriage and life issues. Personally, I believe we as work at home moms must constantly upgrade ourselves and increase our knowledge in family and life issues.

To maintain sanity, I do believe that it's important for every work at home mom to put in some effort to stay healthy and look good, even though she's working from home most of the time. Go for a facial once a month to get rid of those blackhead, get a massage to relax and rid of those tension, chill out with a girl friend or relax over a cup of tea. It is so important to look after your wellness amidst life's stresses.

Believe it or not, some of these little pleasures in life can help to spur you on and grant you the motivation to keep going as a work at home mom when the going gets tough. When is the last time you do something for yourself?

The Challenges of Work at Home Moms

In life, there are always ups and downs. The work at home mom is not exempted from low moments and struggles in her journey to build a home based business.

Imagine having to deal with your child's crankiness in the morning before hurrying him off to breakfast and beating the morning traffic. A stay at home mom has to deal with this every morning and sometimes, she will feel like throwing the white towel and says "Suits you, do what you want!"

Recently, a work at home mom/friend of mine told me that her son had stopped attending school because getting him to school every morning was such a chore. He would kick a fuss, cry and throw tantrums. The parents decided to keep him at home instead and resorting to personal home schooling.

The work at home mom has to take care of more than just her home business. She has to do grocery shopping, clean the house (for some), cook, does laundry, teaches her kids and sometimes, even fit the faucets in the house when they fail to work.

Being a work at home mom requires lots of strength, grace, endurance, patience and determination. There are times she wishes the man of her life will understand her sacrifice, pain, struggle and heartaches. But sadly, sometimes her wishes have gone unnoticed and her efforts unnoticed. If you are one of those as described, take heart, keep your faith and don't quit.

Our trip to Sungai Klah Hot Springs Pool

The trip to Sungai Klah hot spring was a nice one on Sunday. I had experienced hot springs in Hakone, Hokkaido and Rotorua but in Malaysia - that was our first encounter. It was not bad.

Our drive to Sungai Klah hot springs from Petaling Jaya took about slightly over an hour. It was pretty easy to get there with as there are many signs leading to the hot springs. After purchasing the tickets, we needed to drive into the car park and it was only a short walk leading to the Mountain Springs Pool and Hot Springs Pool. During our visit, the mountains springs pool was closed for renovation and we were told that it would be re-opened during the Raya holidays.

There wasn't much crowd that morning so we didn't have to worry about the pool being too crowded. The kids took off right away when Uncle Alex led them into the hot springs pool. They didn't seem to have any problems with the 'hot' water in the pool! The adults took a while to get used to dipping in the hot water. One tip for those who are new to hot springs pool: Dip yourself into the pool for 5-10 minutes and get up. You will feel 'cooler' and more comfortable. The first dipping experience might not be pleasant during the first minute but it only took a little while to get used to the temperature.



The children had lots of fun and we had a little picnic when we had enough of the hot springs. We gave the private jacuzzi a miss as it was too expensive - RM75 per hour. At a height of 3 ft - 4 ft, it wasn't suitable for children too.

So it was a nice outing to Sungai Klah before heading to Bidor for Duck Thigh Noodles. Don't forget to buy some local guavas, jambus and cempedak before heading home. Petai fans can buy fresh ones from the road side stores. Here's another tip: Make sure you did the fruit choosing on your own. Otherwise, watch closely if you have requested the fruit stall seller to do the choosing.

Featuring "Are You Being Served"?

While talking to a friend on messenger the other day, I am reminded that I have been away from Singapore for coming ten years. Well, that's a long time. Even though I have been living outside Singapore for that long, I have always felt so at home when I am back. It feels good to patronize familiar shops, walk on familiar streets and eat the familiar dishes.

Over the years, Singapore has been known for her fast and advanced developments in many industries including education, economic and also tourism. Travelers and even the locals demand alot from the Singapore service industry. Therefore Singapore retailers and business providers are expected to deliver in the area of customer service. But let's face it... there will be occasions where you feel that the service standards in Singapore do not deliver. I know that cos I'm a born and bred Singaporean and both DH and myself have been marketing Customer Service Guru, Ron Kaufman's programs in Malaysia.

So if you are one of those who have something good and not-so-good to share in the recent experience you just had with regards to the service you received, Are You Being Served is the blog to pen your thoughts. This is a blog that allows readers to share freely their experiences and opinions about their encounters, or even suggest a 'mission' for the service squad. While the blog provides unbiased opinions, you can be certain that your comments will be published unless you decide to go overboard with your language. The purpose is to provide a platform for other readers to learn and share with each other while upholding the service standards of Singapore.

To learn more about the real missions from the service squad, let me invite you to visit the blog and learn about Singapore Customer Service .. Share Your Story. Have fun and enjoy!

Long Weekend Again for the Work At Home Mom

It's another long weekend this week but it seems like there are so many things being lined up this time. Basically, the work at home mom takes a break when the active kindergarten boy takes his.

We are off to Sungai Klah hot springs tomorrow with a group of friends. I reckon that will be a lot of family fun for all of us. I had experienced hot springs in Japan and New Zealand but never in Malaysia! I am geared up to take some video and photo shots for the excursion. It's been a while since we take such trips locally other than the nice drive to Bukit Tinggi last weekend.

Today, I had a conversation with a church friend who has a son suffering from epilepsy when he was five months old. Before talking to her, I was a weary soul wondering how to cope with my very active child. But after that short chat, I felt convicted of my impatience and ungratefulness. I have forgotten to treasure and record my child's little progress in life. I have taken his milestones for granted. I felt embarrassed. She helped me regained my joy of parenting. I found myself thanking God for all His blessings upon Clayton and my family.

I am grateful...

Work At Home Mom's Trip to Singapore

This is my first trip to Singapore via Firefly. It's time for a short break when school holidays is on. It's good for every work at home mom to escape from her daily routine and enjoy a little perk every now and then. It is a great thing to feel recharged, rejuvenated and renewed.

Though it wasn't a long break, it was enough to put a smile on my face. This is our the last month for Garage Adventures, a wonderful place where I can drop off Clayton every time I'm in Singapore. I would have to figure out how to find my 'me time' on my next trip.

Nevertheless, I made the best this trip. I had to visit the new iconic mall in Orchard road - ION Orchard and like many first timers, I was lost at the basement. I didn't have time to walk the entire mall since I wasn't too keen in the high fashion shops this trip. I spent most hours in the basement checking out the food hall - it was impressive! The style of the food hall resembles those I saw in Japan and I only wished DH was here to witness it. He is a lover of F & B! I tried out the pastry in Provence and Bread Society and was impressed with the quality and texture of the breads. The popiah I bought Clayton was so huge that it was lunch for him!

It was that I visited my dentist before I came for this trip. I could then enjoy some nice food in Sun and Moon, Toast and Canele. I was thankful I didn't need Plano porcelain veneers or any fancy treatment for my teeth though the root treatment was something I didn't looked forward to!

Next was the NATAS fair that got me excited about traveling in Nov/Dec. The promotions and travel offers were so attractive and it got some of my work at home moms thinking about taking a vacation too! With economic downturn in many parts of the world, travel is becoming cheaper and it is a great opportunity to fly and take vacations. Having said that, it is also good to be watchful with the H1N1 situation wherever you are traveling to.

After four nights in Singapore, it's time to head back home via Firefly. A good flight experience though the turbulences were bringing some anxieties at some point. I look forward to my next trip to Singapore... it's just another work at home mom's simple pleasures in life.

Work At Home Reports Clayton's First Sports Day

Here comes another busy week for the work at home mom as the school holidays begins! It's also Sports Day at Juara Cerdik today and it's Clayton's first as well.

It was good that it was done in Yuk Chai School so there wasn't much traveling for us. All the kids were geared up for action in their respective coloured PE uniforms and there was so much excitement in the air!

Though it was only a short 4 hours of fun, I could tell the children were getting restless while waiting for their turns for game time. All parents were equipped with their digital cameras and video recorders, all ready to capture memorable moments of their children in action. It was nice.

We met a few friends and familiar faces and everyone was just waiting patiently to see their children on the field. Events and gatherings like that gave me an opportunity to get to know other parents better. From business plan writer to stay at home moms, all parents came from all walks of like!

I managed to capture some shots of Clayton as he ran his best to 'bring Rollie home'. Even the parents had their share of fun when it came to parents' games time.



I must say that the school and all the teachers and helpers had done a great job for the sports day. They worked so hard to prepare for all the games, prizes, goodie bags, parent's gifts, food - may the Lord bless all of them for their hours of hard work.

With school holidays starting today, I would probably need to slow down my home business. It isn't easy keeping my boy occupied for the whole day - he just never stops until he crashes at night! That's the only time the work at home mom gets to catch up with work, emails and other things. This is what parenting is all about - it keeps me going!

Work At Home Mom Should Take Breaks

It's school holidays again next week and I suppose most work at home and stay at home moms will be busier than usual!

Perhaps the break is too short for a holiday for some but I know of some families who are taking a short weekend break in nearby destinations. Normally the year end holidays will see more families taking a longer vacation but with the current H1N1 pandemic, some have hesitated to travel.

For those who are planning to travel, you may want to compare hotels and get the best accommodation rates for you and your family. I can't say enough how convenient it is to check accommodation with the convenience of the internet technology. Whether you are searching for cheap condos in destin or cheap hotel rates in Hong Kong or anywhere else, you can get hotel rates on the spot. Unlike before, you would need to call your travel agent. And with low cost budget airlines, travel has been more affordable for many, especially those with a big family.

Even for work at home moms, a break is necessary to get recharged before moving forward to new challenges ahead. But if you don't plan to travel, doing things together as a family is just as great to rekindle bonds and relationships.

Work at Home Mom talks about Pneumonia

The work at home mom is all well and back home.

I was discharged on tuesday after responding well to 3 days of pneumonia treatment. Before this, I never had any understanding of what pneumonia is but now, my knowledge about the disease has been enriched. Alot of people, like me, have little or no knowledge of pneumonia. And because many people here in Msia died of H1N1 with underlying illness including pneumonia, they think all pneumonia patients have H1N1. This is not true at all.

The H1N1 virus attacks the lung cells directly so it is easy to have lung infection once you are infected by the virus. Lung infection means pneumonia so this explains why most patients who died of H1N1 had pneumonia and usually the severe kind.

Pneumonia can be treated by most antibiotics unless it is viral pneumonia. The common pneumonia is said to be bacteria pneumonia. Pneumonia itself is not contagious but the cold virus is. I can sense that some friends of mine were very cautious about talking to me, even though I'm well and cured. What they do not know is that their cold or flu virus is more contagious.

With the current H1N1 pandemic, it is normal to feel a little worried when someone you know is sick. The problem is, the virus can be caught in our environment. In other words, the person next to you in the shopping mall, the person sharing the same lift as you, the person who serves you your favourite char kway teow every day can be carrying the virus. At the end of the day, it's the immune system that determines how your body can fight the disease or virus.

So, promote good hygiene at home or work by washing your hands with soap and water. Carry anti bacteria gel or wipes with you if you have little children with you. They are prone to viruses and these wipes are helpful.

I am thankful to detect pneumonia early and within a day, the fever and pain was gone. I can never be more grateful to God than this. It looks like I will be treated like an alien by some friends when I attend the wedding tomorrow. I'll try not to talk to anyone in order to calm their anxieties....

And yes, the work at home mom is all well again. Thank you for all your concern. God bless.

Work At Home Mom Blogs From Hospital

For the first time, I'm blogging in a hospital for this work at home mom blog.

Well, besides giving birth to Clayton and during his first weeks as a baby, I have never been admitted to a hospital for anything. Yes, I am that blessed and fortunate. I thank God for that. But yesterday morning, a disturbing pain at my lower left rib. It was scary cos never have I had such a prolonged pain and it felt like someone was poking me from the inside. I knew I needed medical attention.

DH took me to the Sime Darby Specialist Centre for a quick consultation and I was asked to do an XRay. To our surprise, the X ray showed that I had a lung infection at the lower bit of my lungs and that indicated pneumonia. It was shocking for me cos I didn't have symptoms like a bad cough or breathing difficulties except for the morning cough which I thought was caused by my allergic rhinitis. When she told me I needed to be warded, I almost freaked out.

In tears, I went home, packed some belongings and left for the hospital. My first fear: Could it be A H1N1? When we arrived at the Damansara Specialist hospital, the wait was long with many people with masks on. I could overhear the nurse calling the ward to check if I need to be isolated after reading the doctor's letter. They must be treating me like a H1N1 suspect. Fears within me rose.

When my turn came, the not-so-friendly doctor on duty checked me and her facial expression didn't make me feel any better. I mean, why are these doctors not taught how to cheer patients up or are their jobs to intimidate patients and increase more fear in them. Don't they know that patients in A & E ward are anxious? Have they been taught anything about psychology?

I answered and asked many questions and all the time, she answered very enthusiastically... my you, this is Damansara Specialist Hospital, not some Serdang or ulu one. Anyways, I discarded her intimidating answers and expressions even though she told me that I would need to be isolated. I asked her further - if I'm tested H1N1 negative, then I don't need to be warded right? She looked at it blankly :(

The next time I was called, I was asked to do a H1N1 swab and it was the same doctor again. This time, she told me that the specialist had advised that if I was negative for H1N1, then I would be in the normal ward. Sigh! She needed the specialist to tell her that!

After couple hours of wait, the results came out negative (thank God!) and next was a blood test before being examined by the specialist. It was clear that the X Ray had indicated an infection the left lung which caused that poking pain.

The admission was smooth despite the wait and I got a private deluxe single room. What impressed me was, I found wireless connection from my phone. Thus, I rang DH to bring me my Macbook right away. I couldnt imagine being stucked here with just a few Astro channels though the room was comfy with a big sofa bed and had a nice view.

I was blessed and fortunate that our medical insurance covered the expenses and I didn't have to worry about the daily stay and tests. For many people, it would be costly and being treated in a government hospital wouldn't be the same. Also, I was thankful that the pneumonia was detected from the pain I felt cos I read that some people had no symptoms.

The pain wasn't comfortable still and I'm still waiting to talk to the doctor about the details. I'm praying that the infection cleared fast and I can be home soon. I miss my home, my son and being present a home. DH never had to take care of Clayton and getting his things ready for school and meals.... now, he would need to learn some mommy's tasks.

I'm thankful for all the prayers from my close friends and all the well wishes. I trust that I will recover well by the grace of God. Looking back, God has been merciful and has showed His love every step of the way.

With that, I give thanks.

The Work at Home Mom Has a Sore Knee to Nurse

For no rhythm or reason, I arose with a sore knee 3 nights ago and the pain isn't getting any better. The only comfort is that, I am a work at home mom so I don't need to worry about moving about like an old lady with this bad knee. Even then, it has been agonizing for me and I really want to get well soon.

There are so many things that need my attention this week. Clayton is down with a bad cough and I've put him off swimming classes yesterday. The car needs servicing and this reminds me that we need to check out if our AA membership includes one of those rv towing like the US. There are some chores to complete for the house and I need to get round to finishing them.

I hope that the air quality is improving so that our respiratory systems don't have to suffer anymore. I really dislike the haze and what it is doing to my sensitive nose. I'm looking forward to cleaner air in days ahead and yes, air would surely be better in brissie.

As we count down to our new beginning in down under, it's great to know that we can have a home office in brissie and we can get some tax rebates while working from home. Hopefully the properties aren't rising too much even though Australia has officially been out of recession. Then again, it's still a long way to go...

Work At Home Mom is Back

I have been absent from this blog for a while. So what have I been up to? Besides the usual parenting and work at home duties, I was away for a day trip to the Polestar Pilates conference and been nursing my problem tooth and bad flu.

Today, I'm feeling a lot better. The infected root canal on my molar had sort of settle down before the root treatment begins and the extra rest and sleep I got last few days are all making me feel better. Sometimes I feel so weary with this ENT problem - it's just so annoying. But I'm going to keep believing for God's complete healing and will continue to stay active.

The Polestar Pilates conference at the Singapore Arts Museum was a good one. It was nice learning from Dav Cohen and Deborah Lessing, both authorities in Pilates. I was initially worried if I could cope with the challenges moves but it turned out alright. I managed to cramp in a lunch appointment and quick tea with a few good friends before heading to the airport.

This was my first time traveling on Air Asia back to Singapore. The trip was smooth except for the retimed and reschedule of flight. I disliked that bit. It actually caused inconvenience and I had to change my personal plans.

I'm still trying to rest more the next few days before getting back to the usual work at home and parenting routine. It's quite annoying that after changing this blog's topic for so many months, the SEO results still shows that I'm ranked for my previous keywords. I'm not putting in much efforts in terms of SERPs for this blog but then again, I still expect Google search engine to be smarter and more efficient.

Anyways, the internet is up and running again at a fast speed (thanks P1 WiMax!) so I'm going to do some property research in the brissie market.

Like to know more about working and earning money from home, visit Home Office Women.

Like to know more about natural health remedies and holistic health matters, visit my Natural and Organic health blog.

Like to shop around in and out of the web, visit my Go Shopping blog.

Working At Home Requires Discipline

Those who work from home should have no excuse not to take up any fitness activity. With the flexibility of time, you should find time to exercise especially when you have sent all your kids to school.

All it takes is to wake up a little earlier or to make some sacrifices and you can achieve your health goals in your home office. When it comes to this, I always admire my DH for his strong discipline in exercising every morning. He does his workouts rain or shine and even when he is not feeling 100%. Sometimes I wonder why he pushes himself so hard and he will remind me that it's 'discipline' he's after. Think of the upside: if you exercise regularly, you may not need other weight loss options like clinicallix or others unless you aren't fit to exercise.

Working at home does require discipline. You need to avoid spending too much time on that phone call with your girl friend or sister. Don't even switch on the TV during morning tea or you may get hooked. Keeping a list of 'to dos' can help to keep you on the track.

Exploring Ideas on Working At Home in Australia

More and more ideas on what I can do to continue working from home in Australia are being presented before me since last week. I'm one work at home mommy who believes that opportunities need to be sought, they seldom come knocking on your doors.

So with a few ideas toying in my head, we've been discussing them in our home office. It will be fun to explore some of the ideas. It's exciting. This weekend, I'm also looking forward to my Polestar Pilates conference. Though it's a day trip, I know it's going to be a fun and interesting one cos I've never been surrounded by a big group of Pilates enthusiasts in one room.

I'm also busy converting our New Zealand trip site to a blog. After much thinking, I've decided to give the site a new look and optimize with my SEO knowledge. Talking about SEO, there is so much to learn and it is important to be patient during the process of learning and working.

While I'm working hard in my home office, many of my friends are enjoying summer time, the season for many to take off, spend time with their families near and far. Not sure if many will be going for Florida vacations or any beach getaways this year due to the downturn but I believe what matters most is a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle.

So to you work at home mommies or daddies in your summer holidays, enjoy and have fun with your loved ones.

Determined to Continue Working From Home in Down Under

Lately, I find myself digging and researching more about Brisbane and all the work would be smoother if the internet connection is better. I'm determined to continue working from home when we move down under and wouldn't mind few hours of part time work in the area of my interest.

There have been a few open opportunities out there and how many of you agree that the toughest thing to do is to decide on the best decision to make. Though there's still time to think through, some decisions require some action earlier.

DH is certain that he'll stick to home based business work and for me, I'm open to explore new opportunities and challenges. I believe age plays an important part as far as courage is concerned. When we grow older, we tend to be more cautious and skeptical compared to the times when we were younger in age. I have to remind myself to stay optimistic and have faith in all the things I do.

Working from home will continue to my goal when we move down under. This is the best way to spend more time on parenting during these precious years. I know that in a twinkle of an eye, Clayton will be a big boy with a mind of his own. Sometimes, I want that to slow down... lots of mixed feelings. Know what I mean?

Mommies Working From Home Need Rest

Sometimes the weekends can be more tiring than weekdays for those mommies working from home... weekends mean full time parenting!

I've limited Clayton's television hours so he's been spending more time in our home office with his toys. It's amazing listening to his own 'play scripts' as he does his pretend play - children are so downright creativity in their own right!

We've been with P1 WiMax for a month now and sadly, like the other internet providers, it is not stable. I have to agree that the connectivity is faster than streamyx and maxis broadband but on certain days or certain times in the night, the connection will slow down. It can be frustrating for DH and me as we are full time in our online business and our computers are turned on more than twelve hours a day in our home office. Due to that, I have been very reluctant in uploading photos to my blogs, it's just taking too long!

I came across a photo of a friend in his handsome tuxedo in his wedding and it reminded me that I have been married for 9.5 years. I proposed to DH that we celebrate our 10 wedding anniversary in Hokkaido next year and to my surprise, he tentatively agreed... but it has to be by tour cos it will be cheaper.

I'm looking forward to my Polestar Pilates conference in two weeks time. It would be fun joining more than 200 Pilates enthusiasts at Singapore Arts Museum for a time of learning and working out.

Somehow this is a busy weekend - lunch with relatives and farewell party with DH's friends. He's still suggesting that we go for a carnival tomorrow under the hot sun - I strongly objected! I feel like telling him that work at home mommies need a rest too! I just dislike those boring carnivals with people selling boring stuff. I would rather spend time at home sharing a TVIQ show or Disney movie with Clayton... or probably continue my research in Brissie properties.

Work at Home Mommy on Parenting

Oh... has it been so long that I've been missing from this blog. Blame it on my niche sites, migration research, parenting, pilates classes, family obligations....:) It's hard to find much free time even though I'm a work at home mommy. It's been fun!

Last weekend, I attended a half day Creative Maths workshop. The speaker was sharing about creative parenting and encouraging creativity in children. It was very inspiring and educational. Sometimes we try hard to fit our kids into the educational system and when they don't, we get frustrated. We get discouraged and even thought about quitting on them.

Most school systems only test children in their academics but not on their other abilities. As such, we use academics as a yardstick to measure our children's intelligence and abilities. It takes courage, time, patience and wisdom to uncover the potential and talent in our children. And if no one pays attention to them, no one will.

For a work at home mommy, I have the privilege to spend more time with my boy but still, I can miss his other abilities if I focus only on his academic achievements. Besides, it is so important for us parents to believe in our children. Dr James Dobson had uttered so clearly in his books that it is getting harder to parent our kids in today's media age. It is our responsibility to guide them, help and encourage them in this merciless and cold world.

I'm not an expert in parenting but I strive to do my best as a work at home mommy.

The Flexibility of Time Of a Work at Home Mom

The cool thing about working at home is that you have full control of your time. In a sense, it may be limited by the list of things you need to accomplish especially if you are a mom or dad. But what's different is that you are the manager of your time.

Looking back, I have accomplished much this year since the start of 2009. Taking up Pilates is one good decision and after a few months of Stott Pilates, I'm now learning Polestar Pilates with Nubody and loving it. Pilates has certainly taught me how to breathe better and my core muscles are definitely stronger. I just didn't know that there is so much to learn in Pilates and the upcoming Polestar Pilates conference in Singapore will be a great eye opener for me. Some people have opted Pilates as a weight loss exercise while others choose pills and diet to shed the extra pounds. The internet presents lots of information of weight loss options from nuphedra reviews to pilates videos to workout your body.

Being a work at home mom, time management is important so that my productivity levels are kept high before my son comes home from school! So I'll schedule all my personal activities early in the day so that I have more time for my home business.

With more than a dozen niche sites hanging around my neck, I'm hoping to start more niche topics in the next half of the year. This task wouldn't be possible if I'm not a work at home mom cos it takes time to build these niche sites including backlinking and seo work. I also hope to create more affiliate stores later on to increase my affiliate income for the home business. Yes, it's hard work and no one says it's going to be easy.

Work At Home Mom and Pilates

Once again, I'm thankful to be a work at home mom as the haze is back in our city. It's irritating my nose and it sure isn't doing a big favor to my rhinitis.

With this bad air quality, it's better to restrict outdoor activities and this is so tough for an active preschooler. It was good to take him out of here for a few days or else it would be crazy for us in the home office.

After four lessons of Polestar Pilates, I am learning so much more and I'm contemplating on the Polestar Pilates conference to be held in Singapore on 18-19 July. I believe it will be an eye opener for me as many Polestar Pilates experts will be there to teach and share the different aspects of the discipline. Then I found out that it is clashing with Clayton's first sports day in Juara Cerdik and I'm not willing to forego the excitement on that day. It would mean a great deal to him when I'm there since it's a school activity. It's all down to priorities again. If you want to learn more about Pilates fitness, visit WinsorPilatesFitness for more information.

Pilates is such a great fitness workout. If you are conscientious in the exercise, you won't need to worry about diet pills unless you are truly overweight. I would then suggest that you consult a physician to help you with your weight loss problems.

On the home office front, it's back to more SEO for my niche sites and working hard to increase my affiliate sales and adsense. Being a work at home mom keeps me very busy and at the back of my mind, I'm counting down to our move to brissie. I seriously need to move on...

Time for Vacations for Work at Home Moms

We are into the second week of the school holidays - how are all the work at home moms doing with their busy kiddies in the home?

I took Clayton for a few days' break to Singapore. It was good being home again... it always feels good to be back in Singapore. Amidst the busy cityscape, I feel safe, liberated and refreshed! I had my haircut, visited Uniqlo and had my sandwiches at my regular hangout. Clayton too had a great time a Garage @ Adventures and i could see that he really miss Singapore too :)

It was hard to spot any recession when Orchard was packed with people everywhere. I wasn't too impressed with the Great Singapore Sale until yesterday when I stepped into OnPedder and Phyto Organics. I got my first pair of Repetto Ballerina and a pair of Giuseppi Zanotti wedge pumps. It was a good deal and it looked like I won't be buying anymore shoes for the rest of the year cos I had reached my yearly quota for shoes!

Fans of Lavera and Organic Surge products, head to Phyto Organics at Raffles City Shopping Mall cos there is a storewide sale of 70%! Though all the products are close to expiry, they are safe to use cos organic products normally have a shorter shelf life listed. I bought a few Lavera body oils and creams and was very happy with the discounts. Phyto Organics is moving out of Raffles City and in the future, you would need to visit their office at Stamford House if you need to buy anything.

Not sure what some work at home moms are doing this summer. Some popular family breakaways include Vegas vacations or disney holidays. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy yourself with your family and the children and be refreshed!

Busy weeks for Mommies Who Work From Home

It's school holidays again and that means another busier two weeks for mommies who work from home. It also means that some moms will find it hard to earn money from home since they need to spend more time keeping little missies and misters busy and happy.

Last Friday, Clayton's school had a mid year school party and with the theme of Noah's Ark, every child needs to be dressed in an animal of their choice. I didn't sort of take it that seriously until thursday and had to call a friend for ideas and advices. I'm not an expert in kids' costumes!



With her suggestions, DH and me made Clayton a bee attire - that was probably the easiest to do! I managed to find a yellow t-shirt in his dresser and used that as his bee suit. Using black duct tape and a few simple accessories, his costume for the school party was ready!

I had to thank DH for suggesting that we DIY instead of renting an animal costume. It was fun doing things together as a family and these little crafts were so meaningful. We have been so engrossed with working from home that this sort of break is good to break the monotony.

The school party ended well and we took a short 2 nights break in Genting Highlands with my family from Singapore on Sunday. Genting was never my favourite holiday destination but it was the company that made the trip very nice and special. The work at home mom and dad spent two afternoons in the indoor theme park and watched the kids bumping each other on the bumper car. I was glad to catch up with my loved ones too. It's been a long time since we visited Genting after our last sales training some time ago.

Now that we are back in the office, I need to do more balancing act with my earn money from home projects and spending time with Clayton. I'm looking forward to spending a few days in Singapore and having some personal time as Clayton enjoys himself in Garage Adventure.

Earn Money From Home and Weekend Bits

After tolerating for more than two months of slow internet connection from TM Net, we finally signed up for the Maxis 3G Broadband. For the last couple of months, it has been very hard trying to earn money from home through our online business, simply because the internet connection has been terribly bad.

Instead of getting overly frustrated about the bad service and connection, I shifted my focus onto my personal goals and parenting. Since the start of this year, I have been attending Pilates classes and last week, I started on Polestar Pilates after a few months of Reformer training with Stott Pilates. I'm excited to start Mat Pilates tomorrow as I would like to learn how to use the fit ball for my Pilates workouts.

Focusing on a healthy and fit body means a stronger immune system in the long run. Unlike healthcare plans in Australia or some other countries, most of the healthcare plan options here can be limited. In the states, people have lots of choices from Blue Cross North Carolina to premium healthcare plans. Eversince taking up swimming and Pilates, I have felt better, healthier and happier and I believe these will add up to stronger immunity for my body.

Last Sunday, we filled up the pool again and I was truly proud of Clayton who immersed his head in the water. I can understand his fears as I was once like him. It took my more than 30 years to overcome this fear so I had decided to give him time to deal with this. He did anyway and I hope that it would come easy for him when he goes to EC Swim next week.

I took time off from my work at home projects and spent the afternoon with him at Jungle Gym and lunch at House & co. It was a very nice and fun outing for us both as daddy attended his weekend seminar. It was our first time in Jungle Gym and though I wished he had a playmate like Jamie to be there with him, we did alot of things together that afternoon. Lunch at House & Co was a quiet, relaxed, yummy and casual one. The restaurant was spacious with very friendly waiting service and it's one great place to have a quiet afternoon tea with some girl friends.

With the week starting, it's back to my online business and I really need to complete a few more affiliate stores before the school holidays began. When you earn money from home, you need to work around the kids' holidays and schedule most of the time. Still, I can't wait to take a short break in the highlands when my family is here and spending a few days in Singapore. I am missing some 'me-time' in Toast and Kim Robinsons.

Earning From Home Tales

Nobody says that earning from home is easy, especially if you are also a full-time parent. Yet, everyday more women and men are making the decision to work from home despite the surmounting challenges around us.

I am struggling to balance as a work at home mom and a full time mom. Some days I managed better, some days, I struggled. Lately, I try to do things a little differently with my growing preschooler. Few days ago, we took out the inflatable pool (his first birthday gift from Aunty Tracy and Uncle David) and let him had some good fun in the front porch. Though it was weird placing a big inflatable pool in that congested car porch, we didn't care anyhow. All he wanted was water play and we wanted to do things different.

On the personal front, I have been attending pilates classes for coming 6 months and I'm excited to try out something new. There is also a tug to take up the teachers' training when the time is right cos I'm growing to enjoy the workout more. Just like a medical student who needs to attend a medical assistant training school to gain her certification, I would eventually find a good Pilates teachers' training course.

Last couple of weeks, I've been shooting more with my Nikon D80. It is a good camera though I'm hoping to get new lenses in the near future. My child model at home is growing fast and I'd like to capture his growing moments with my amateur photography skills.

I purpose to rise above my negative emotions as far as earning money from home is concerned. Yea, I do get it from time to time... wondering when the breakthrough is coming. For now, I'm enjoying my weekends and hoping to enjoy some family time. Some shots taken in the past week...

The Work At Home Mom Had a Fabulous Vacation

Dusk in Kho Phanak

It's back at home for the work at home mom after a very nice vacation in Phuket.

Every one of us was impressed by our 2 bedroom villa. I mean, what more can you ask for? A plunge pool at the courtyard, a very big spa bath tub, fully equipped kitchen, a spacious living area, a cosy courtyard that links to the pool area... that was sooo cool!

Both our villas were next to each other so it was nice to hop into each other's villa for breakfast and fellowship. We enjoyed each other's company so much, even though the trip was a short one.

Oh and the kids - they had an even better time! Clayton and Jamie clicked so well. They had so much fun and they were having their own conversations with each other all the time. They held hands everywhere they went, sat together, went to kids' club together, ate together, watched Animal Mechanicals together, laughed at each other's jokes, swam together... it was like they were having their own vacation!

Though Clayton had a fever during the trip, it didn't deterred him from having fun with Jamie... it was so sweet to see them enjoying each other's company. This was the first time Clayton could have his own fun during our vacation.

I believe every one of us is reminiscing the nice time we had in Mai Khao Beach Club. We were so thankful that we didn't have to pay for the accommodation and the whole trip had turned out so well.

Till our next group trip, the work at home mom needs to work extra hard in the next few months. I need to set some goals for my online business. There's so much things to do!

Some photos from our Phuket vacation:



Mai Khao Beach Club





Courtesy of my lawyer friend, Dexter Lim



Courtesy of http://justinyeng.blogspot.com




Two little cuties



Aren't they sweet?

Work At Home Mom Says Happy Labour Day

It's labour day so the work at home mom takes a break from her home office but not parenting!

I managed to sneak into the mall for a short while to grab my SPF30 sun block and I'm all geared up for our Phuket trip. It's drawing closer... in two days' time, we are off for our first vacation for this year. Though it is a short one but it's different from our previous vacations.

We haven't vacationed with friends for a long time! The last one was 2 years back with our good friends, Tracy and David, in Shanghai - that was nice. This time, we will be spending few nights in Mai Khao Beach Club and I heard that the 2 bedroom villa is very nice.

This morning, I managed to confirm with Captain Mark from Phuket Sail Tours. We have confirmed a private charter in the Songkai ( a sailing yacht) and it is going to be a real adventure. An afternoon outing at the hongs followed by a sunset cruise awaits us and I'm sure Justin is ready for some camera action!

My hubby booked our regular taxi driver to the airport and this will be Clayton's first experience flying in Air Asia. Cheap tickets, free accommodation, great company and exciting adventures - this is sure nice for a mid year break.

I was reading about swine flu updates and social security disability in the web and really pray that everything will be under control in the affected countries. It sounds scary to know that the virus is spreading rapidly from one person to another. We need to pray for protection and mercy.

So happy labour day from the home office of the work at home mom and I hope you can take a break and spend some time with the family this weekend.

Cleaning Up Time For the Work At Home Mom

I believe the current swine flu outbreak is causing alarm around all the world. Whether you are a work at home mom or have a full time job outside, the first concern that comes to your mind is to protect your kids from any viruses or outbreaks.

Though there is suspected cases in our region, I hope that health authorities will do their utmost best to screen all traveling passengers returning from affected countries. It's scary when tv commentators have stated that the spread of swine flu should not be underestimated.

This is the time for schools, community places and even homes to step up in cleanliness and hygiene. We can only do our best to keep germs, bacteria and viruses at bay but above God, we need to pray for God's protection.

So you get out your bbq sets and clear up your outdoor dining sets this spring, why not do yourself and your family a favor to give everything a good cleaning. Sanitize your kitchen tops and surfaces and wash your hands frequently.

That's a reminder for the work at home mom, that I should give my home office a good clean up this weekend. It's time to vacuum my bed and pillows with the Karcher before taking a break in Phuket. I'm glad to take a break from work and looking forward to an island outing with some good friends.

Disciplinary Action From The Work At Home Mom

This week started off a little rough for me, the work at home mom when the little master in the house kicked a fuss with Monday Blues.

He got a hard 'punishment'. Mommy had decided that he went on without TV for the entire week. It was an agony for him. I must admit that this punishment was harder for me cos this would mean that I had to keep him occupied once he got home from school, now that I couldn't have the TV as the 'babysitter'. Well, it was tough but I had to do it.

The good news is, this disciplinary action turns out to be very good for us. Though he tried to humbly ask for a little TV during the week, he was able to accept a straight 'no' - he was very good. I was very impressed by his subservient attitude... he didn't fight nor demand. It wasn't as hard as I thought.

We spent abit more time doing things together and it was great to see him 'self entertained' with his imagination and creative play. From this, I learnt that having too much TV stifles creativity!

At my home office, I still do my best to work on my earn money from home projects. It was a little slow this week with the bad internet connection but I am glad I still got another site set up. I have to look into identity theft protection information as I have been receiving some 'fraud' emails demanding private information. Those of you who earn money from home have to be careful with these things. Don't release any personal information to third parties through your social networking sites or chat rooms.

With the weekends approaching, the work at home mom looks forward to take a break and does more research on their upcoming Phuket trip with some wonderful friends. It will be a good short break for us and it will be a fun one.

The Work At Home Mom is Keeping Busy

Things were a little crazy back in the home office of the work at home mom last week.

My little one was under the weather so I had been paying more attention on his condition and recovery. Then we were away at JW Marriott for a training with a local bank so it was really a full week! Though I do like to earn money from home, our offline business still bring in nice revenue for now.

Since we work from home, we depend alot on the internet connection. Sad to say, going online here is never the same as going online in Japan, HOng Kong and Singapore. The line here breaks so often and it's seriously frustrating!

I find myself asking for more wisdom and strength as I learn how to handle my preschooler. He's so good in negotiation and manipulation. On some days, he's not making it easy for me to earn money from home. I am also wondering if kids of the 21st century are all like that. I don't remember speaking and reasoning the way he did when I was his age!

In two weeks' time, we'll be off with some cool friends to tropical Phuket. Though Phuket is never my desired travel destination, I'm looking forward to the great company and I'm pretty sure it will be a good break from work. This is the first vacation for the work at home mom this year and I sincerely hope it's not the last! We'll be spending a few nights at the Marriott Beach Club, thanks to my lawyer friend and his dear wife. Clayton can't wait to jump in the pool and play all day with Jamie!

After reading the travel forum and some trip reports about Phuket, I may need to recommend some best fat burners for the group - LOL! We'll be hiring a driver during the trip and I look forward to some island hopping and nice photography shooting.

For now, it's rolfing tomorrow, then swimming, followed by Pilates. It's going to be another full week for the work at home mom and yes, I'll be setting a couple more sites this week too!