Busy Schedule Before the Big Move

The clock is ticking and I'm counting down on the days to the big move to Brissy. Our last trip to Club Med was a nice one and it's now back to serious business of packing up and moving on.


I did most of my online shopping and managed to order couple of cardigan sweaters before the move. There are some beauty skincare that I wanna buy from Singapore since I know I won't be able to get them in Brisbane. Melbourne is probably the nearest city to buy them and I don't suppose I may go there in the next three months.

I'm toying with the idea of a new Nikon and the D7000 is enticing! But I would need to sell my D80 to offset the cost of the new camera! There are a few other things I would like to get before the move and it looks like the list of to-dos is never ending. What's worse is that there are some renovation works going on in the house during to a leakage and it's eating into my busy schedule!

It's now back to finishing my assignments before my final trip to Singapore before the move. I can't wait to head home again...

Work at Home Mom Prepares for Brisbane

In a few weeks' time, we'll be heading to a new place and it's going to be a fresh new start for our family. I'll continue to be a work at home mom and hubby is looking forward to grow his mobile marketing business.

Everyone is asking us what we'll be doing business wise and it seems hard for anyone to understand that we can make internet business a real business. After few years of earning money from home via the internet, I know it's possible and it involves hard work too. We have tried many kinds of businesses over the years from MLM to seminar business and we find that the online business is one that will continue its growth.

Just imagine how easy and convenient it is to check information online these days. You can read nutrisystem reviews, find a solution to a health problem or search for friends on the internet! People are reunited and reconnected via Facebook - how amazing!

Many of our friends are looking to visit Brisbane since the Gold Coast is only 40 minutes drive away. Clayton's school books list is out and I'm preparing him for his new placement in COC. For now, I hope that our barang can reach us before his school starts so that we can have a complete home.

A Preference to Be a Work at Home mom

Is working at home considered a luxury? I think it is.I have many stay at home moms but if you ask them truly, they would prefer to work at home than to be a stay at home mom. Sometimes you get too complacent if you stay at home just to parent the kids, do housework and take care of the house, unless you are a mom of few kids.

But it's all up to an individual and for some women, they are governed by lots of circumstances and they can't choose to do what they want. My cousin has to be a stay at home mom cos her husband is often attached to an overseas posting. So she spends most of her time parenting her kids and these days, she's into online shopping. She bought from children's clothing to acne treatment cream and she was telling me how addictive that can be.

It won't be long that we'll be setting up a new home office down under and there'll be some adjustments along the way. As the australian currency continues to soar, we'll need to adjust our budget and I'm glad that our new gold business can take care of our daily needs and expenses.

Finally our seminar with Ron is here today and it's the first time I'm still sitting at home when he's on the stage speaking. Well, the fact that we have a new partner means I shouldn't get too involved and somehow, I feel that the time is right to exit the business. Moving forward, a new city with new work challenges is what I am excited about. But for now, the packing continues...

Busy October

The month of October is a full one for me. There was so much going on and looking back at the past few weeks, I realized that I had done so much!

The majority of the work is on the clearing, throwing and packing of the house. After living here for almost 11 years, you can imagine how much we have accumulated. Plus the fact that I'm at work at home mom, there's alot of stuff in the home office. it took us a few days to throw things out. And we are so glad that the junk collectors have been ringing on our doorbell. This means we don't even need to call any trash truck to our place - how nice!

Then I had to organize Clayton's 6th birthday party. He had chosen to have it at the Club at Bukit Utama and this time, he invited quite a few of his school mates. We had a lovely time. The children played all afternoon and everyone loved the Bumble Bee Transformer Cake by Tracey. I was so thankful that his fever had subsided on his birthday celebration as he was down with flu, fever and cough for a few days.

This month, I had some emails requesting for diet pill reviews but I simply have no time to work on them. I think my internet business can only resume when I settle down in Brissy. It's just too much to handle at this moment.

I'm glad that I can still steal some time to finish off my facials at Jurlique and my massage sessions. These are the pampering treats I look forward to. And yes, I've booked myself to a complimentary manicure at La Mer next week! That's what life is all about amidst the busy schedule and tiring days of packing!

Short Updates On Sabah Trip

Oh dear, it's been a really long time since I last wrote. It's been very busy for me - parenting, packing up the house, throwing out what we don't need and earning money from home. Time seems to pass so fast everyday... it's just crazy!

I just got back from a short trip in Sabah. It was great seeing an old friend whom I knew for more than 25 years - long time. We had a wonderful time chatting, catching up and eating. Her husband and herself were so gracious in hosting us and it was great to see her grown up girls too!

We stayed for couple of nights at The Magellan Sutera Harbour. It was a great family resort with lots of activities if you have little ones. My boy was too busy in the pool and he enjoyed himself thoroughly. We had wanted to stay at the Shangrila but due to the renovations at the pool area and some public compounds, I didn't think it was a good idea. The Magellan was a great choice and the sea view was nice to have.


I didn't do any shopping during the trip cos the mall was rather pathetic. Then again, I didn't go with any intention to buy anything but to catch up with old friends. My close friend who came along with her boyfriend bought some discount jewelry and souvenirs at the markets and I guessed that was about the only shopping she did.

Now that I'm back in the home office, the packing continues and I just need to get used to the mess in and around the house! Then again, it's just another few weeks to go!

Packing and Throwing Out

In the last few days, hubby and myself managed to pack away three boxes of clothing to be given to either the Lifezone or Salvation Army.

Many of the discarded clothing are in very good condition but after sorting out what we should keep and what we shouldn't, we decided that we should only give things that are in good condition. It's no point giving to others what's of no use to them. The thing is, after packing away three boxes, there are still more to give away. I've learned to buy wisely from now on!

My hubby was so efficient in clearing the storeroom yesterday... I was utterly impressed! He did such a good job and now, I'm left with only the little sections to pack and clear. Clayton has been doing a nice job in packing away toys he wants to give away. He is the happiest person in this packing project. This boy is about to celebrate his birthday this Saturday and he's recovering from a fever and cough.

There are a few other errands to take care off before our move. I'd need to list down those important things as DH isn't good in these family affairs. I'll probably leave him to handle some home office start up matters when we settle down in Oz but for now, I won't stress him with details. I'm thankful that the web is providing me lots of useful resource and I can even check out rental properties from where I am. Whether it's NC health insurance or any Australian healthcare info, the web has everything I need at this moment.

I'm glad that things are looking good and the packing continues right until the movers come in to help.

On the Move to Down Under

In two months' time, we should be handing over the keys and by then, everything else should be in the container. I'll then take a break from a work at home mom till we settle down in brissy. The excitement is certainly buillding.

I've been looking at realestate.com.au for rental availabilities while keeping track of rental rates. I'm praying that we'll find a good property before the new year so that we can settle down fast and have our container shipped over.

There've been lots of property seminars and talks going on this year and unfortunately these properties are usually not the cheapest in the marketplace. On the investor point of view, they seem attractive but a real investor should be looking for fire sale or better deals such as Duck foreclosures. Hubby thinks this is not a good time to invest and the prices should correct when there's another interest rate hike.

While buying a property may not be our immediate plan, it's still good to monitor the prices and do our research in the first year. By then, I'll be back as a work at home mom in our new home office and hopefully I can have a work desk facing a bushland, park or a good view.

Updates and Updates

The packing has begun and now our house and the home office is showing some mess. For the past couple of weeks, I have been juggling between parenting and work at home plus the major packing for our move.

Somehow, the spring cleaning is enjoyable as I get to throw out some old stuff and rediscover things which I didn't know I have! IT goes to show that there has been much accumulation over the last ten years and it's now time to ditch and start all over. Amidst my very busy schedule, we are spending time with friends over dinners and doing lots of catching up before leaving. It feels like yesterday that I had moved here and in two months, a new journey awaits in down under. I believe that we will enjoy Brissy and the new beginning will be a wonderful one. I am absolutely positive about the change and my heart is all ready to adapt to the new challenges.

Our seminar is leading up in three weeks' time and this is the first time I didn't make any calls to anyone about the program. Over the last six years, I have enjoyed running seminars but somehow, I'm losing the zeal and interest. It's probably because I am ready to pack and leave or it's probably time for a change. For the first time after seven years, I don't liaise with hotels, order any promotional products or talk to any clients. I do enjoy talking to my clients and it's nice to network with different people. But things are different this year!

So much for change and the new journey, I'm praying that Clayton have a speedy recovery and that he's back to his bubbly nature again. It is so tiring when a young child is ill at home....

Work at Home and Packing Up

My vacations are over and now, it's back to reality and I need to get back to work at home.In the next two months, I won't have much time for my online business except for clearing some assignments. It's good that I can still make money online and that's the dream of many stay at home mommies.

I detest the postal system here in Malaysia, simply because I can't even buy a padded envelope from the post office!! I mean, shouldn't the post office provide a one-stop shopping experience to today's customers? As such, I prefer to send online gifts to overseas friends instead of mailing a gift. First, I don't need to worry about the expensive shipping costs and next, I don't need to wait in queue to post my parcel. To those who love to shop for gifts online, check out the Sneak peak at RedEnvelope holiday sale. This is a good site if you are at a loss of what to buy for a birthday or anniversary gift. What more, you don't need to head down to the post office!

On the home front, I've started packing though the pace is slow. I need to speed up in the next few weeks so the stress is lessened. It's seems overwhelming to pack all that we have but I guess I just need to take it one step at a time. It's a good progress and I'm filled with much excitement and anticipation.

My Body Needs Exercise

I woke up this morning feeling lethargic and know that my body needs some exercise. It's been a while since I go for my Pilates classes and I truly need a good stretch.

Working at home is great as I can multi task and plan my time without worrying about traffic jams unless I need to be out running errands. I have been visiting this chinese therapy centre known as OSSO for a treatment on my neck and lower back. I can't wait to buy my new adjustable table from Archi Kids and an ergonomic chair cos my body needs them badly! A wrong table and chair can affect the posture and it isn't good if you spend so much time in the home office.

The packing has begun and though it seems slow now, it should speed up later. All these packing and chores should act as natural fat burners for me but I should still get more exercise. Staying active is good for the body and mind and it is beneficial to my health.

We are now in the third quarter of the year and it's been fun parenting and working at home though it's been a fairly busy year at home. Moving forward, I'm excited to a new life and new beginning down under.

Packing Time for the Work at Home Mom

Due to my extensive travels in the last three weeks, I can see that my skin isn't behaving the way it used to be! It looks like I would need to take time off for a good facial! That's a pampering treat for a work at home mom - facial therapies and a good massage!

From now, I will be busy with packing with for the move in December. I'm glad we had ordered our furniture and now, it's time to start the packing. With less than three months left, I should start throwing out the things we don't want and reduce the clutter little by little.

I was looking at my drawer full of skincare products and I would need to pack them in a designated box for the movers. In the drawer was some best acne products sent to me some time back and I should put them to good use. Then there are racks of clothing to clear - some to be given and some to be packed for shipping.

I'm glad that things are moving along well and the flexible schedule wouldn't be possible if I'm not working from home. So it's part time work for me now until I settle down in Oz.

Back from Hanoi and Back to Work at Home

After being away on and off for three weeks, I'm glad to settle down back home and resume my work at home mom duties. It's been great being on trips with the family but I'm happy to get on to the serious stuff now!

Our trip to Hanoi was an eye opener and I've finally seen this busy city with my own eyes. I finally understood why my friend took half hour just to cross the busy streets in Old Quarter and it took me a while to cross the roads too - with some anxiety of course.

Personally I didn't enjoy Hanoi on the first day as the city was fairly polluted, very warm and humid. But it got better on the subsequent days. We stayed the Hanoi Elegance 5 and the service was impeccable. There is free wifi access so I could do my work in the night. There were some assignments to complete and with the laptop in the room, I could work without any interruption. I even did some surfing for a friend who was looking for some dieting stuff. (see www.lleucine.org)

Our trip to halong bay was the best in the trip and it was nice cruising in the Violet cruise. The suite was gorgeous and the view was fantastic. If only the weather was cooler, I could sit on the balcony while enjoying the view of the bay. It is no wonder why it had been awarded the UNESCO heritage site title.

With Hanoi ending our Asia escapades, it's time for the work at home mom to get back to the busy planning of the big move and finishing up the assignments for the week.

Work at Home on Parenting and Teachers

Just a few days ago, my son told me that he didn't want to attend Gym and Sports class in his ASP and that got me curious. Being a work at home mom I do my best to spend time communicating with him and get him to talk about his problems if any.

He told me that his gym and sports teacher will leave him in the class by himself after dismissal which served as a disciplinary action. While I have no problems with teachers discipling my child, I didn't think it would be right to create that sort of fear, anxiety and phobia in a child. That act had not taught him anything except inducing fear. Sometimes it's hard to explain to a child the good intentions as they may be too young to understand. Yet, many teachers will think that creating fear in children is the way to get them to respect authority. That is the militarian way of teaching.

As parents, we do our best to set examples for our children. It's like, adults should not swear in front of kids and reserve their cigars beind closed doors. Children learn by example and it takes efforts to earn their respect and honor.

I hope that that teacher who did that to my son will rethink his methods and not carry any ill intention or biasness towards him. Now, my boy is still saying he isn't going to attention gym and sports and I need to think of a way to coax him otherwise.

Looking forward to Hanoi Cooking Class

I was told that the labour costs here in Vietnam is low. Therefore, it explains why things are cheaper and you can find quality clothing and accessories at good prices.

Honestly, after doing a walk in several streets, I find that this doesn't seem to be a good place to shop. I do agree that the silk is of good quality but the design of the clothing seems a little loud or out of fashion. Or maybe it's just not my type. I was looking for something simpler, more trendy or contemporary. But navigating through the streets in the polluted air wasn't so nice for my eyes. I can see that unemployment is a problem here and perhaps many have gotten construction employment in the outskirts.

Hanoi cooking class will be a good break and we'll be spending half a day with the Hanoikids. I read wonderful reviews about Hanoikids tour and am excited to learn more about Hanoi from these team members. Tomorrow will be a good day... let's hope that Clayton is a good partner in the cooking class too!

First Day in Hanoi

Early this year, we discussed about our family vacations and hubby expressed his desire to visit Bali and Vietnam before our big move. So we have decided to maximize all the public holidays in this country and take few short trips this year.

This is probably our last overseas trip before moving to Oz and the last stop is Hanoi. I mean, we have heard much about this very busy city but never seen it with our own eyes. Well, we did today. We arrived in Hanoi on time and was soon taken to our boutique hotel by a private car. The check in was smooth and the service was impeccable. I couldn't asked for more.

We did an hour of cyclo tour and it provided great insight of what Old Quarter was like. It truly was busy! We won't too used to the busy scooters and cars and the disorder! There are all kinds of shops in the Old Quarter selling all sorts of things, from horse tack to shoes to mats to household accessories. But somehow I find that they were in a big mess and the busy traffic made it hard to shop around.

So that was my impression of Hanoi on our first day. We'll see how it goes tomorrow... I'm sure Hanoi Cooking Class will be fun.

Work at Home Mom Off to Vietnam

When a work at home mom travels, she thinks practical and that's what I have been doing since traveling with Clayton at 3 months old.

One of the essentials when we traveled with little clayton was to get a good lightweight stroller. It may sound troublesome but the stroller was a great thign to have. We were looking at the old travel photos and I recalled him sleeping on it many occasions. We were thankful that he was such a good traveler too. For those looking for strollers, the web is a good resource. You can read reviews of strollers such as phil and teds explorer and many more.

We will be heading to Vietnam tomorrow and I'll need to do some last minute research of the place before heading off. The work at home mom will be taking a short break and I'm excited to explore this cultural city.

Living Naturally at My Best

With more people getting more health conscious these days, the health food industry is growing everyday. Many work at home moms I know are choosing natural and organic foods for their kids and some have started growing their own organic gardens. How nice!

Being an allergy sufferer, I'm careful not to go near dusty places as they aren't good for my respiratory system. In fact, I dislike entering old buildings and houses as the moldy environment can be detrimental to my health too. Some of you may have heard of Mesothelioma and this is often caused by poorly construction materials.

I hope to grown an organic garden when we move to Brissy. It would be nice to pick herbs from my garden and choose some vegetables for our meals. I may not have green fingers like some mommies but with a little practice and effort, I believe it's possible. Choosing to live naturally isn't that hard if you are willing to put in the time and efforts.

Cooking and the Work at Home Mom

When you work from home, you tend to cook more than moms who have a 9-5 job. For a long time, I have been cooking dinner every evening except weekends and it's a better and healthier choice than eating out all day.

I'm not like some moms who are experts in selecting the best cookware or utensils for their kitchen. Being a practical cook who can't afford to spend too much time in the kitchen, I go for simple meals. I often tell DH that if he wants complicated recipes, we can go to a restaurant. I reserve simple meals for the home kitchen :) What a good excuse. Actually, I would love to attend some cooking lessons if I can spare the time cos it can be so fun learning new recipes! I may need to buy some new cookware to add to the kitchen collection. Some work at home moms told me about enamel cookware and I've yet to find out more.

I'm looking forward to Hanoi Cooking Centre during our trip to Hanoi on Thursday. I read so many good reviews about it and I gather it's going to be real fun cooking Vietnamese dishes while shopping in the local market with Chef Tracey. And now, I'm praying for fine weather for the entire trip!

Building Memories with Vacations

It's nice to take a vacation when you are a work at home mom. Imagine staying at home most hours of the day and not getting out to meet friends... it's not what everyone likes to do!

I've been blessed with many nice vacations this year and I'm glad that we can stay in some nice accommodation. Our stay in Bail was fantastic as I had never stayed in a villa. Then we had a great stay at The Mira Hong Kong and the suite was spacious and comfortable. For a 80sqm room in Hong Kong, you can expect a nice bedroom with a cosy sitting area. Double sinks if there wasn't enough with a see through glass bathroom. We had a great time. I suppose it's likened to a luxurious Branson vacation in the US but for me, a short Asia vacation is good enough!

Most importantly, the family had a nice time traveling together though it wasn't easy coping with three kids and an elderly lady. All went well and I built wonderful memories from the trip. I hope that we can travel together again in the near future and this time, the kids will be older.

While some people don't understand why I don't mind spending a little more for a nice vacation, I am happy that I did what I did. I'm glad that I bought my family the best and I trust that these memories will be treasured for a long time.

Shopping Online for Work at Home Moms

Shopping on the internet is a popular activity among work at home moms these days. I mean, it's so convenient to shop online and the only thing you need to do is to exercise self restraint!

In the last few months, I have bought a few things on the internet and I'm happy with all my purchases. Except for one cashmere cardigan who got lost in the mail, everything came on time and the lady who sold me the cardigan resend a new one out of good will. Among all the online merchants, my favourite has to be DPM from France who sent the children's clothing within five days from the day I confirmed my order!

We work at home moms are constantly looking for good buys and all kinds of wholesale discounts. Even when it comes to travel planning, we search for the best discounts for our accommodation. I often compare hotel accommodation rates at Search Your Hotel.

If you are new to online shopping, here's a tip. Always search in the web for coupon codes before making any purchases and you will be surprised at how much you can save!

Reminiscing New Zealand Travels

With more travel photos from our trips, my macbook pro is running out of space and thus I have to get an external hard drive for my storage.

I was archiving all my trip photos, starting from our first New Zealand travel to the most recent and my son was so excited to see how he was like when he was little. I enjoyed our New Zealand trip and this is such a beautiful country. We rented a car for almost a month and toured the North and South island - it was so memorable.

Renting a car in New Zealand is so common for tourists and travelers and you tend to see more that way. In fact, some rental cars get a 5th wheel warranty so hat you can be safer on the road. Of all the cities, I like Queenstown and Mount Cook but seriously, every city has its own charm and character. It's such a big country!

Looking back, my little boy has grown and in no time, he will be smiling at the photos we took in our Bali and Hong Kong trip this year.

Yummy Food in Hong Kong

Even though I have been to Hong Kong countless times, I never grew tired of this bustling city.

Food is glorious, shopping is great and accessibility is no concern at all. In fact, Hong Kong has improved alot since two decades ago and many food stalls are more hygienic now. These days, it's not uncommon to spot food sellers wearing safety gloves and service is improving too. The influx of China tourists has also humbled the Hong Kong retailers and they have become friendlier too.

Believe it or not, we had Tong Yuen from Chung Kee in Jordan every night and I couldn't have enough of these yummy treats. if I have more time in Hong KOng, I would comb the streets for more yummy food! But it's just not so easy moving around with an active six year old.

We had lunch at the infamous Yung Kee Roast Goose restaurant and we didn't have enough of the goose! Though it's not cheap, it's still one of the best goose I had eaten! Enough of food, let's talk about shopping in the next post!

A Great Time in Hong Kong

After a one week break from the home office, I'm back in my cosy home before re-packing for Hanoi.

It was great to see that everyone especially the children had enjoyed themselves in Hong Kong. If given a choice, I wouldn't want to go to Disneyland but for the kids, it was good fun anyhow. I was shocked to hear that there was no roller coaster... Clayton was disappointed to learn about that.

We stayed at the Mira Hong Kong in TST and it was a great place to stay. The design was fantastic and the location was fabulous. Just 5 minutes walk and we were in the MTR station. The entertainment centre in the room was a delight and free wifi was available in the entire hotel - how nice! This means, you can surf the web for any info - from HCG shots Austin to the best restaurants in Hong Kong, all info is at your fingertips.

Hong Kong is a real shopping paradise with prices that are pretty attractive. I found that the electronic goods are cheaper than Malaysia, so are the luxury goods. We spent a short time at the Citygate outlets in Tung Chung and got a few good deals

That's a quick update for now and more to come.

Msn isn't working!

I'm seriousy annoyed cos my MSN just wouldn't boot after a dozen tries. I don't know what happen but it decided not to work since this morning!

In this day and age, instant chats have become a channel of communication among friends and families, simply becos it's cost saving and efficient. I mean, I even chat with the hotelier online while trying to find out more info about the hotels. That's what we call 'maximizing technology'! Some time ago, I even chat with an online retailer before buying my pair of mbt shoes.

But now that my msn isn't booting up, I need to find out what's happening and a solution. Otherwise, I would just need to revert to calling on Skype and communicate with friends from there.

Birthday Invitations and The List of To-Dos

In one month's time, my little boy is turning six. We were both looking at some old digital photos and he was so thrilled to watch how he was like when he was a baby.

We started discussing about making birthday cards for his birthday. Actually, I'm reminded that there isn't much time to prepare the cards and if I want his friends to show up, I should be quick to send out the invitations. We've been away these two months and it's hard to catch up on things!

Clayton is now so excited about his Disney vacations and he's going to have a ball of a time with his cousins!

So let's see what needs to be done in the next two weeks - design some birthday invitations for Clayton and then start my massive unpacking. It's time to get started before I find myself sinking into a mess of duties.

A Great Bali Vacation for the Family

Last Friday, we took a short vacation to Bali for a few nights during the long weekend and had a wonderful time.

After getting some advice from a Bali is happens to be a Bali expert, we decided to stay at the Ulin Villas and Spa in Seminyak. My work at home hubby has never been to Bali and for me, Bali hardly left me a good impression when my friend got pick pocketed 15 years ago in kuta. But Bali has changed.



When we arrived in Seminyak, we were quite impressed with the many nice looking restaurant snd cafes in the area. You can spot a western crowd right away and I can understand why. Bali is so affordable for the Americans, Europeans and Aussies but for Malaysians, a night's stay in a villa can be expensive. It took me a long time before deciding on Ulin after hearing all the raving reviews at Trip Advisor.

Let me just say that the rate was worth it as we had a lovely time in our private villa which comes with a private 25 m pool. Clayton was swimming day and night and infact, he couldn't wait one minute to get into the pool the minute we stepped in to the villa!

For me, it was pure relaxation and I loved sitting at the outside lounge, watching them swam and sippig my tonic water. The bath tub was set outdoors and we had nice family spas together everyday. Seminyak town isn't big but it's enough to keep us busy. The western food standards in Seminyak is much higher than Malaysia and the price is reasonable. For us, it's better than many restaurants here who charge alot for the mediocre food they offer.

In terms of shopping, Seminyak has lots to offer though they aren't cheap. We took a day out to Ubud and you can buy all sorts of artistic homeware in this quaint town. Our driver took us for a ride where we had a view of Kintamani. If you are into silver accessories, Bali is the place to buy some nice collections. I know of some people who love all things silver, from silver bars to silver crockery.

So after five days, we are back in our home office and the work at home mom is trying to finish up more work before the next trip in two days' time. I am looking forward to another time off again.

Plans in the Next Few Weeks

I know it's too early to make plan for Christmas but I have already received a mailer on Christmas promotions few days ago.

In a week's time, we'll be taking a short vacation during the long weekend break in Seminyak, Bali. After spending weeks of research, I had settled for Ulin Resorts and Villas, which happens to be the most popular specialty lodging in Seminyak. In this day and age, travelers are savvy in comparing hotels for their holidays. TripAdvisor is the best place to go for hotel tips, reviews and travelers' information.




This year, we will be celebrating Christmas in Brisbane. Though we may not be putting pup C9 led christmas lights, but we should be spending it in a different manner. I have booked our short term accommodation in Kangaroo Point while we find a permanent place in the southside.

So many things are happening and there'll be a few more Asia trips and vacation in the next one month. It is definitely exciting for me as a work at home mom but I need to be more efficient in my planning in our relocation plans. And did I mention that I'll be doing my lasik in two days' time and I'm getting a little nervous :)

Back from The Perhentian Islands

We took a good break from the home office a week ago when we spent some time with a few good friends at the Perhentian islands.

That was my first trip to the island and though the journey required two transfers by van and speed boat, it was awesome. Never had I seen such crystal clear waters and the weather was perfect during that time. Just by strolling along the beach or standing at the shore, we could see fishes and it was great fun and excitement for the kids.

Clayton enjoyed himself so much that it was hard to get him out of the beach every time. We took a short boat trip to Rawa island and that was one fantastic place to snorkel. The fishes are aplenty and the kids didn't even have to go far to see tropical fishes. For the first time, I snorkelled in clear waters and it was amazing beholding the parrotfish and corals under the sea. I fell in love with the waters and forgot all about the sun at some point.

The only complaint was the room condition in Perhentian Island Resort which was badly maintained. The lighting was poor and the towels weren't clean at all. Apart from the expensive and badly maintained room, the waters was a great consolation.

The trip ended after four nights and I'm missing those lovely clear waters of Perhentian. I am tempted to check out Sipadan now but that would mean another break from the home office. My schedule is getting busier! And did I say I'm enjoying it!

Off to Perhentian Islands

The month of July is a busy month and the days are passing faster than I expect. This month is filled with errands for parenting and home affairs and I haven't done much work from home.

I've been researching and doing price comparisons for some home and electricals including mattresses, bedding and other big items for the move. How many of you agree that you only shop for mattresses once every 5-10 years? If that's not you, then you must be a real fussy one. We have used our current Dunlopillo for 10 years and it's due for a change. So there are a few in my shopping list - Simmons, Sealy, Tempur and maybe King Koil. All these come with a big price tag especially the back care ones. But I believe that it's important to choose the right mattress for your long term health's sake as we spend one-third of our lives sleeping! Tempur is a good one but I'm not sure if I'll be used to the firmness.

We are leaving for a short island trip to the Perhentian Islands with a big group of friends tomorrow. It is going to be great fun for the kids and a relaxing time for the work at home mom. I would need to pack up my camera, SD card, other swimming gear by this evening. Before taking off, there are still some outstanding tasks so I would need to finish my work at home by tonight.

I'm praying for a good weather at the Perhentian and I'm hoping to snap some good shots too!

What a Busy Week!

What a busy week it is for me! I've only been able to work from home for a short hour in the morning and few more hours spreading through afternoon till night. The depression therapies are taking up two mornings a week and for that reason, I have to stop my Pilates studio classes for a while.



I'm also shopping for a new Mac for our home office. With new softwares and updates, I'm needing a more powerful machine to work with. But after being a Mac user for the last two decades, I won't want to settle for anything less. It's just a great machine to have! The online store at Apple Singapore is offering a free 8Gb iPod Touch free for a Mac purchase (at education pricing) and it's tempting! But who is going to drive my Mac to KL... hubby isn't going to drive to Singapore just to get me an iPod Touch. Not that I need it but it's just a deal that is too good to be missed!

Shopping in Singapore is always exciting and inspiring, especially when there is a sale. The variety is impressive and the best thing is, the stores are not spreaded out like here. I used to buy my prenatal vitamins from Singapore. Most of Clayton's vitamins and supplements were bought in Singapore too. These days, I have been getting my Manuka Health propolis and Comvita products from the Guardian Pharmacy in Singapore.

Enough about shopping. I need to finish off a few assignments as I won't be able to work from home tomorrow. Hubby will be going for Lasik and it will be a busy day for me, chauffeuring him and Clayton, and the new plants from the nursery are arriving in the evening. Two more days and the weekends is here! Yay!

Parenting and Work At Home Tales

Since the beginning of this year, I have resumed my regular coffee enemas and this has been part of my health maintenance. The fact that I'm a work at home mom allows me to prepare my juicing or health drinks every morning.

After being down with two bouts of pneumonia last year, I have put in efforts to work on my immune system and thank God that I've been good this year. The healing room ministries had been a great blessing to me and I have learned to trust God in a new dimension, especially when I'm not feeling well.

Staying healthy is what everyone of us desires and we can all agree that health is more important than wealth. Yet, the irony is, we often lose our health to chase wealth and by the time we realize it, the consequences can be regrettable. So instead of choosing diets for quick weight loss, pay more attention to live a lifestyle that is balanced. Eat a well balanced diet, exercise regularly and choose to be happy. Sometimes, I get so tired from parenting and work at home stresses that I need to get out and recuperate my mind and spirit.

In the midst of your busyness and chores, don't forget to breathe deep, rest well and stay in touch with family and friends.

Work At Home Mom Gets Busy Again

My schedule has been disrupted by a series of events since June and it's making it hard for me to work from home.

I signed on a series of Decompression therapy after the chiropractor showed me a slight rupture on my discs. Since, I have been faithfully going for my therapy at Global Doctors. The people working there are nice and I have a good experience with the centre so far.

In two weeks' time, we'll be heading for the Perhentian Islands with a big group of friends. I know the kids are going to have fun and Clayton will enjoy himself with Jayden, Ashley and Hannah. Since I can't scuba dive, I may go snorkelling and have fun with the kids. Though a trip to the islands is nothing like sailing in the Royal Caribbean, the outdoor adventure fun will make up for everything. This will be a good break for us while we spend time with our friends.

On the home office front, DH has been working very hard on the online business to prepare us for our move to down under. I appreciate him for pointing me to the various channels to the internet business and becos of him, I can continue this work from home dream.

It looks like my schedule will continue to stay full in the next few months with a few more trips here and there. Can't believe that it's now July and the count down has begun...

Update Again From the Work at Home Mom

Oh dear.... I don't even know that my last post in this work at home mom blog was dated on the 23 June! I suppose I've been really busy, busy, busy!

Well, the truth of the matter is that I haven't really 'breathe' since then and so many things seem to be happening all at once. As I'm writing this, I have a basket full of laundry to clear, my floors need cleaning, my internet business need some attention and I've got so many errands outstanding!

I hardly have time to sit down for a good read in the last two weeks and I'm missing that. Hubby was away in Myanmar for a week plus and I was terribly busy during his absence. Now that he's back, there's still no rest cos there are so many things we need to attend to every other day. Tomorrow is another full day out with violin and music, followed by gym and a lunch appointment with two old friends. Then I need to help check out a review on nuphedragen for someone. Though the list of to-do's is long but it's satisfying at the end of the day.

I'm definitely looking forward to some good food this weekend and taking a break from the kitchen. I enjoy cooking as a work at home mom but sometimes it's a tad too much to cook everyday! So onto the weekend and I'm off to order my Tempur Millennium pillow now!

School Has Started and Back to Routine

The second semester has begun and it's back to the daily routine for the work at home moms. It was a relief cos I don't have to scratch my head to keep little junior busy since he isn't allowed to watch the TV all day.

In two days' time, I'll be busier cos DH will be away for his first missions trip. He is very excited about this trip and had started packing his bag since the weekends. I can see the enthusiasm in him and am very blessed by his desire to serve in simple ways. He prepared himself well and did all the necessary shopping for the trip including getting a raincoat, a manual old-style fan and simple treats for the kids.

We had a very nice Father's day celebration in our friend's house and the kids and dads had lots of fun in two inflatable pools. They gave the dads a garden spa and we even had to bribe the boys to 'scrub' their dads at first! I didn't know what to get for DH and looking back, I should get him one of those binoculars for his missions trip.

Since I won't be joining him for the trip, I can support his team in spirit by committing myself to a morning prayer everyday. With work at home and lots of tasks at hand, I don't think I have much time to laze and relax.

Work At Home Back from Camp

After two weeks of in and out from home, I'm finally sitting in my home office clearing up some outstanding assignments and overdue errands. School holidays aren't so great for work at home moms sometimes cos the daily routine is disrupted.

After being in Malaysia for ten years, I finally attended my first church camp here and it was an awesome decision. I have DH to thank cos he wanted us to experience church camp here before our big move. The speaker, Pastor Sam Firina was a great speaker and coach who outlined the simple concepts of how we can live in the favor of the Almighty. It was a great time of renewal and restoration of the core of our hearts and I am so blessed.

Clayton had a great time at the children's church and the teachers from Penang Christian Centre were great too, as they imparted the simple truths of obedience and attentiveness in the kids. I have teacher ST to thank for her sacrificial and undaunting efforts to stay throughout every kid's session that she didn't even attend any adult's service. God bless her faithfulness.

Now I'm back at home and need to settle few things for mom and the home. There are messes to be cleared and I would have to find out more about sell merchant account for the online business too. Not sure if I can take Clayton to Toy Story 3 before holidays end but we'll see. As soon as I sort out the photos, I will post few here too...

Saturdays and It's Still Work Time

This morning, I got as usual on a nice Saturday morning, prepared brekkie for Clayton and waited to send him to Fly Kidz for his gym class. How many work at home moms don't keep track of public holidays when it falls on Saturdays? I'm one of them!

So as you may expect, I drove all the way to Solaris just to realize that Fly Kidz gym was closed! I didn't even know it's a public holiday! Well, as 'blur' or 'sotong' as I may be, it's a Saturday and it's school holidays so I don't even expect it to be a rest day.

Today is one Saturday I need to finish all the outstanding assignments so I have no choice but to let him enjoy some computer games. Anyway, it's school holidays and he's done his Chinese reading so he deserves a little reward. I need to do some writing and complete a review before my trip on Monday. I know nothing about testosterone booster so I'd better do some research online first.

I hope to spend some time with mom next trip as she isn't feeling too well. Besides, I have a big task in convincing her to make a trip to Taiwan before my big move. Let's hope she says YES to my suggestion! It would be nice for her to spend some time with Clayton in a holiday while there's opportunity.

Weekends for the Work at Home Mom

It's the weekends again and though I work from home, my mind automatically goes on a 'rest mode' when it's Saturday.

Saturdays are relaxing. Kitchen is closed and we hang out in our regular joints, take it easy and laze around the house. Somehow, you don't feel that guilty when you are lazing about on a weekend but the guilt is evident on weekdays. My favourite chocolate store, Royce, had opened up in Tropicana city so I'm been indulging a bit. I hope I won't need fat burners after two boxes of soft chocolates in 2 months. I love the soft texture of Royce chocolate... yummy!

Since I'm off to Singapore on Monday, I should just clear up some work and do some packing this weekend. I look forward to my shopping time during the Great Singapore Sale period and meeting a couple of girl friends over lunch. Clayton is always happy to be back in Singapore and he still likes taking MRTs and traveling in public buses. He is such a good traveler and I thank God for that. With the iPhone being a good entertainment device for him, I can now shop in peace in my favourite boutiques when he's with me.

So here's a good weekend to all and may all work at home moms close their kitchens and pamper themselves with some good times.

Work At Home Mom & Food

In our home, we eat in on the weekdays and the kitchen is closed on the weekends. This arrangement can be tiring if you work at home mom cos you need to set aside at least an hour or more to prepare dinner for the family.

As such, I look forward to weekends as that's a break for me and I can indulge in my favourite foods. These days, we avoid going to mega malls and we prefer to go to neighbour ones to get all our necessities. Being stuck in traffic or driving in circles for a parking lot is never too fun and it's time consuming too.

These days, there are two favourite hunts that we frequent. One is situated near Aman Suria called Betty's Mid West Kitchen and the other is WaterLily in Tropicana. Betty serves very yummy pork ribs at the most affordable prices. We love the homestyle cooking and casual environment... nice people too. No frills and just good food.



Salad with BBQ Squid



BBQ Beef Pasta at WaterLily

WaterLily serves contemporary Balinese food which is affordable and good. The BBQ beef and chicken are my favourite plus the satay lilit. WaterLily also serves western dishes with a balinese twist while the local Balinese dishes remain the popular favourites with their diners. Be warned that portions are quite huge so you may want to order to share.

With all the meaty dinners on the weekends, I may need to start looking at fat burners if I don't exercise enough. So I'm stopping here to head to my rebounder for a good bounce and oh yes, the mid term school holidays are here again and there'll be no more rest for the work at home moms :(

Brief Thoughts on Tropicana City Mall

After being here for 10 years and more, I still dread to visit the post office where the waiting is long and the service is still as inefficient as before. Since I work from home, I only drive out for errands and I avoid visiting post office and banks.

But my woe of posting letters is now solved with a Pos Malaysia now opened in Tropicana city. I had to send something to my dear sister in UK and guess what, at 1pm, I was the only two customers. Not too good for the business but it's good for me :) In the last few months, we have been patronizing the mall on a regular basis due to the convenience and close proximity. We have then since avoid traveling to Bandar Utama due to the bad traffic at the highway. I mean, you don't want to waste more time outside when you are a work at home mom... you just want to quickly get home and get things done!

Chocolate lovers may be happy to know that the Japanese chocolate store, Royce is now opened in Tropicana. You can spot it by the pure white and blue shop interiors. Basically Tropicana city mall is great for serving the basic shoppers' needs. Buy your groceries and household clamps from Carrefour and grab a book at Borders. Go for a manicure at Color Culture or have a Japanese dinner at Sushi Tei. It's a pretty convenient mall to be without having to navigate through the jam and crowd.

Ok I am not paid to promote the mall but just thought I would share it briefly here. So work at home moms, take note of the 'not-so-crowded' post office if you need to pay your bills or mail your parcels.

Work At Home Mom Packing Up for the Move

In preparation for the big move, I've started to do some spring cleaning and packing away some old clothes. The thing I love about being a work at home mom is that I can do a few simultaneously.

So when the internet was out few days ago, I took time to pack away some old clothing and that was when I decided to call the movers for some boxes. I don't like to get to stress up with packing and throwing things out last minute so I thought I would start early. More so, I'll be away at least once every month from this month onwards right til October.

With so much to do on the personal front as well as at work, I am feeling tired before the clock hits 12am every night. Sleeping at midnight is norm for us but I'm not sure if age has a part to play but I am getting tired much earlier than that! The irony is, I can't seem to get to sleep right away even though I'm tired. Sleeplessness seems to be a common problem for many people who usually end up with sleep aids. I tried valerian root many years ago but somehow it didn't worked on me!

Tomorrow is a day off for little junior so I work be able to get much done in the home office. The only way is to allow some computer leisure time and that should allow me to finish some urgent work before we head to Singapore next week.

June - A Month of Excitement

Other than being known as a work at home mom, I'm known as a health freak to my close circle of friends.

Well, I don't know where that nickname came from or was it due to my ardent advocacy on organic and natural foods. I'll usually stick to a natural option if I can unless I have no other choice. So I use tea tree oil for natural acne treatment and all insect bites and itch. It works well for me. Lately, I've grown to like the Lucas Paw Paw ointment which works very well for sensitive skin and cuts.

Back in the home office, I'm trying to finish up as much work as I possibly can before the two days of After School Program break. This will be my last busy week before heading to Singapore for my regular break. Not many people will agree with me but heading back to Singapore is a 'break' cos I can reminisce all the quiet and private times and do many things that I like. This trip, I can leave little junior with Garage Adventures again cos the owner is back in business on a part time basis. Though it will cost more than Peekaboo in Kallang but I know he's safer and happier with Ade. She's a great teacher and child carer.

The month of June is here tomorrow and it is going to be a busy month for the work at home mom and dad with so many things happening at the same time. Nevertheless, it is exciting!

Work At Home Pondering on Internet Age

As powerful and useful as the internet can be in today's fast paced world, we ought to be careful when it comes to internet security. Whether you are a work at home mom or not, you should protect all your email and website accounts by updating your password on a regular basis.

Few days ago, I received an email from an acquaintance seeking for some urgent monetary help and in the email, she was said to be robbed to gunpoint and not having a penny to get home. A look at such email will tell you that it is all fake and someone had hacked her email account. I sincerely hope that no one will be naive enough to send money to the account number in the email.

I can't deny that the internet has become an important for me as a work at home mom as my business depends on it. But sometimes, I think I need to step away from being connected and remember how I used to lead my life before. I wouldn't want to become addicted to the internet or feel uneasy when connection is disrupted. Infact, I do feel 'lost' when the internet was down for 2 days a week ago. I read that some teens become depressed when they become too dependent on social networking sites. They chat, make friends and enjoy their circle of virtual friends that if you remove them from this circle, they can sink into depression. For more info on such treatment, click here.

So as we enjoy the convenience and power of technology, let's not become 'addicted' to the internet for surely life must contain a balance of old and new.

Work At Home Mom and Travel

Most work at home moms know that the commencement of school holidays means disrupted work flow and routine in the home office.

In one week's time, mid term holidays will begin and that means the balancing act will get tougher. Thankfully, I'll be off to Singapore for a few days before returning to a church camp two days later. It will be our first church camp and DH thinks we should experience church camp as a family before the big move.

As the countdown begins in a few months' time, a few short trips had been planned. It would be Perhentian island end July, Bali end August and Hanoi in mid September. Honestly, I'm never a big fan of short Asia trips but this year is exceptional. It's too time consuming to go long trips with so many things happening and DH would like to see more of Asia before the big move.

Therefore, I'm excited about these trips especially Bali and Hanoi cos we'll be staying in some cool places. Hanoi will be special cos I never thought that I would say YES to a trip there :) We will be staying in a boutique hotel in the old quarter. From the photo, it looks kinda nice though I don't think there will be a fitness center with treadmills or exercise equipment.

So it's abit less work for the work at home mom next half of the year. But then again, I have more than 50 writing assignments to clear before the break to Singapore!

Work At Home Mom Shifting Blog Focus Back

While sitting in my home office, I was pondering over my blogging journey as a work at home mom. I recalled starting this blog with a passion to update events and happenings in my everyday life. But soon, I got into paid blogging and then along the way, my primary objective of this blog had been shifted.

As a matter of fact, I love to post photos in the blog and it's fun to look back when I'm in the mood for a little nostalgia. But no thanks to the poor internet connection some time ago, I lost the interest and patience to upload photos. Then again, Facebook has overtaken blogger in the last one year.

But I feel that I need to get back to posting more photos in this work at home mom blog for my own keepsake especially if I'm riding on this wagon for a longer time. So from now on, I'm shifting more focus back to the original reason of this blog and will continue from then on.

What's Going On Out and About the Home Office

I can't help but follow the news from my humble home office on what's going on around the world.

The Europe crisis plus the chaos in Bangkok is causing so much unrest and anxieties among the nations and sometimes you wonder when are things going to rest. It is easy to discard these global issues when you work from home cos you are shut from the noises and effects of bad news. But it is important to stay informed.

Back to the home office, DH and myself have been watching some online training videos on video marketing. DH is hoping to incorporate some of the learning points in our new business in Brissy and I have to appreciate him for his efforts. I was just told that some of our relatives will be away for Christmas but it didn't bother me a bit cos we'll be too busy with home search and settling down by then.

Since the weekends is approaching, some of you might be searching for some online shopping sites. A friend referred me to Reebonz and it's a private shopping site for discounted luxury bags and apparel including Gucci, Prada, TODs, Fendi and more. All events will last only for a short time so you need to check out fast if there's something you like.

That's it for today and I'm logging off while it's storming outside of my home office.

Weekly Update From the Work at Home Mom

A friend from Adelaide had just reminded me that our move is around the corner. Actually there are still 7 months to go but we are excited to kick start our work at home business in a new place.

The week had gone fast and I was busy doing chores, finishing up work in the home office and spending quality time with little junior when he comes home from school. It's becoming a routine that we will play a round of Monopoly every afternoon and he is getting rather good at the game! I lost a few rounds in a week and the lesson learned in every game was: Buy and Invest in Properties!

That brings me to a constant update on property outlook at realestate.com.au. I'm hoping to rent in Carindale Solito homes. 100m to Westfield shopping centre - I think I like that convenience! Then again, it's all about timing so I need to pray that everything will happen at the right time, at the right place.

Healthwise, I've been good except for this stuffy nose which I believe is caused by the drastic weather change. It's hot and humid half a day and heavy clouds with rain the other. I don't like this weather. Because I'm a work at home mom, I'm very particular about the air condition in the home and office. So hopefully we won't need so much air condition in Brisbane. That means less allergy problems including sinusitis and eczema.

Enough for this post update, I'm glad we have confirmed our Bali trip and choosing the villas was fun. It's a break from the regular routine of home office duties and I'm now looking forward to a longer sleep tomorrow!

Work at Home Mom is Heading to Bali!

Juggling a few things at a time can be real tiring for any work at home mom. For that reason, many women I know prefer to work outside the house. It gives them opportunity to make friends, get in touch with the outside world, take a break from home and build a career of their ambition.

It's been tiring since my cleaner retired 2 months ago. I suppose I haven't been very used to cleaning the whole house for a long time! I mean the whole house, from laundry to the floors to the regular maintenance of the house. Then, there's parenting, teaching, playing and errands. Oh, and there's work too!

I believe I deserve another vacation and this time, we are heading to Bali. I haven't been to Bali for 15 years and I'm excited to witness with my own eyes the change in the last decade. It is so easy to book a Bali villa these days. All you need is a credit card and you are confirmed an accommodation and vacation.

Looking through the list of bali villas can be mind boggling and reading reviews in between work is taking me longer to decide. I probably need to book my air tickets soon before it becomes more expensive. Yes! I'm heading to Bali... finally!

Work At Home Flexibility

This is a peaceful morning for me and I can enjoy some quietness as I work at home alone. DH is away and will be back later. I like it when I can plan my own time, run personal errands without rushing the car back and being 'free' for a while.

After coming back from Hong Kong, I find myself longing for more of this urban city. Yes, it's busy, crowded, cluttered, whatever ways you like to describe it but I just like the place. Good food, nice shopping and forward moving. I don't think I like to live there but being a visitor is quite nice.

Clayton was very good throughout the trip. I had to say thanks to Steve Job for the iPhone invention for that kept him busy when I was shopping, trying out shoes and choosing things. It was a nightmare having to keep an eye on him and selecting my things last time. It might be a 'quick fix' which may be detrimental to his eyesight, so I think I need more berries antioxidants to balance that!

One thing I know, I won't need any weight loss pills when I go shopping in Hong Kong. The walking is already a good form of exercise. My girl friends are asking me to plan for a short trip and hopefully we can have a girlie outing before my move in December.

Working at home gives me the liberty of planning my own tasks, schedule and time. It is so beneficial when I have so much on my plate every day. With regards to the move, I now have two real estate agent contacts and I'm glad they responded. I hope to find a place by December so that the shipment of our stuff can be timed properly. We might have to stay in the house with no furniture except for a bed, washing machine and fridge if need be. Nevertheless, all things will work out and I'm looking forward to this excitement.

Work At Home Mom - Back from Hong Kong

It seems like yesterday that I was talking about my trip to Hong Kong but I'm already back few days ago and working from home. I'm back to being a work at home mom again!

The short trip to Hong Kong was fabulous. I mean, this wasn't our first family trip to Hong Kong but we seemed to enjoy ourselves much more than the first one. Though it was only five nights, we did a few new things and visited a few new places. It was slow, easy, no stress and somewhat relaxing. We did quite abit of walking but it was leisure and no rush.

I must salute my DH for his efforts to complete our new online business website during the trip. Yes, it was a holiday but knowing DH, he couldn't just sit still and do nothing. He was working on the website at night when we were back from shopping and eating. He was determined to launch our online consulting business in Hong Kong and he did it! Kudos to this hardworking work at home dad!

Shopping was very nice in Hong Kong. I did shop till I drop but surprisingly, DH bought more than he anticipated! Clayton was a good boy and he had a ball of a time with my iPhone. He was just happy occupying himself with the phone that he was encouraging me to walk into shops!

I bought a few things from Faces at Ocean Terminal, couple of bags in Agnes B and a top from 45R. The lady from the store was so nice to hand me a sample of acne treatment when she saw a zit on my forehead but I ended up with hair products instead.



Food was glorious and my favourite had to be Chung Kee's tong yuen at Temple Street and Roast Goose at Yung Kee. I miss the food so much that I am hoping to visit Hong Kong again next half of the year! This time, I should try out Shama serviced apartments though I did like Chi Residences for its good pricing, friendly service and spaciousness. I have to say good bye to all the tiny hotel rooms for now!!

It's back to the home office now and it's back to the daily grind. Till then, I'm planning my next vacation....

Preparing For Hong Kong Trip

In less than 48 hours, I will be Hong Kong and hopefully, I'm check-in at Chi Residences by then. I just did a quick search in Google maps on the accommodation location and I was so impressed that I could see the street view! It was just so amazing! Not only has technology allowed me to work from home, I can even plan my vacation in a breeze with today's advanced technology!

I am looking forward to my favourite desserts and roast meats in this busy city. The weather is under twenty degrees celsius now and I'm praying hard that the weather will be fine and nice. One thing I know... I won't be perspiring under the sun and it should be very nice to snooze at night too. I am expected to plan our itinerary for the five nights but I haven't had time to sit down to do that. The home office is buzzing with lots of activities and work these few days and I must find time to do some planning to night.

Few days ago, we just received birth announcements of our friend who just gave birth to a baby boy. We visited her and the baby and he reminded me of how Clayton was like 5 over years ago. It is nice to reminisce and it reminded me of God's faithfulness.

I must, I must finish all my online assignments by tomorrow and do all the packing by morning. Multi-tasking is possible when you are a work at home mom but sometimes, there can be too much to handle in just 24 hours a day! Ok for now... I hope to snap some nice pictures of food, places and attractions for the trip. Till then!

Work At Home Mom Ramblings

Household chores, parenting and work... these are the things that have kept me busy everyday. Somehow, time passes so fast when you are busy. So even though I work from home, I can't seem to have enough time to finish all my tasks. Sometimes I wonder, where has my time gone to?

This is the technology age and we are all enjoying the benefits of invention. Due to that, we are spoilt for choices and we put a demand on speed on anything. Everything got to be faster, better and nicer. This is the age we are living in - we won't settle for anything less, isn't it?

I was shopping for digital cameras few months ago and it was such a difficult task to choose the 'best' one. Every new model promises faster, better and yields nicer results. But seriously, do we need the most advanced or the best in everything?

I often remind my boy how blessed he is. The kids today are so tech savvy and modernity does catch up very fast with their learning minds. I'm not sure how things will be like in a few years' time but I have to constantly remind myself to move with the times too.

So enough of rambling and it's now back to work and I'd better finish everything before my trip this weekend. Oh yes, the work at home mom is off for a break this Friday...

Remember This Day

I had said that I would like to be a work at home when I move to Oz but if I really have to get out there to find a part time or full time work, I will.

For many entrepreneurs, it's hard to report to a job outside if you have been running your own business for a while. It is hard to forsake the flexibility and freedom of time and lifestyle when things call for a change. I have been asked what I will do when I'm there but it isn't easy to give an answer at this point. Not many people migrated with a job waiting for them at the other end, though we had a cousin who was that fortunate.

Since the future is unknown, there's no point dwelling on it. I should just focus on the move and preparation as there are lots to think about. Now that the cleaner had left too, I'm left with more chores to do so I need to plan my time wisely.

Next week, I will do a list of things to buy and bring. Besides furniture and mattresses, there are some electricals and homeware which I would consider buying.

Ok for now, here's wishing everyone a blessed weekend as we remember the reason for this occasion. The Lord was led to the cross as a living sacrifice for everyone here on earth. May we take a few moments to thank Him for the victory on the cross.

Work at Home Mom and the Weekend

Nowadays I look forward to the weekends. I have been taking time off from work during the weekends and it feels good. As much as I like to work from home, I find that it's hard to stay out of the home office on Saturdays and Sundays. It actually takes discipline to do that!

Last Sunday, we went furniture shopping at the Rozel showroom and it was a fun experience. It's always nice to check out new sofas, dining sets, sit on them, test the cushion, feel the quality...etc. Touch is sensational! It felt nice to touch and feel furniture! I had not done that for 10 years! So now that we had an idea of what we need for the move, it's time to visit the store in a couple of months' time.

Relocating can be both stressful and scary. But when you enjoy the journey and the ride, it can be fun. I'm glad that I don't need to retake my driving when I move to Oz but poor DH would have to reapply for a driving license. Cars in Oz are much cheaper so hopefully I can get to choose the car I want! When the time comes, there'll be more to settle, get auto insurance quotes, hunt for a home, settle into the community and get used to the surroundings. My good friend will be moving in mid year for good... so I have another friend in Brissy.

The new business website is in the making and I'm glad I can continue this work at home journey. Hopefully I have more time to learn a new recipe every week, take up a new course and get into the property market. Dreams, hopes and aspirations - we all need them!

Work At Home Mom and Pilates

Now that Clayton starts school at 8am in the morning, I have been rising at 6am for a time of prayer and preparation. A work at home mom does have to get up early like any other working person, except that I don't have to rush in getting myself all dolled up for the office.

This morning, I headed for my usual Pilates class. It was a good one though my throat was tickling to a cough during the workout. I enjoyed Sherene's class for many reasons. She's one instructress who knows what how to handle the class and making it interesting. Many of my friends have misconceptions about Pilates and often think that it's a slow exercise that doesn't deliver results. Though the workout does not require anyone to be on no xplode but it sure strengthen the core and tones up the muscles. I personally prefer the reformer classes over the mat ones as they tend to be more interesting.

I believe every work at home mom should find time to exercise, even if it's just a walk in the morning or an exercise routine in front of the tv. DH is one person who never fails to do his exercise every morning, even when he's had a late night. I have so much to learn from him! Only thing is, he doesn't need to do the chores for the house but I do, which means there's alot more balancing left for me. But still, I am thankful that we can work from home and do things that many people can't do with their children. As I write this post, I'm reminded not to take this blessing for granted and I'm once again, very grateful.

A Meeting with Mover

In the last couple of weeks, I've been learning a few things from the mover with regards to moving our stuff to Oz. Initially we thought we would buy all our stuff in Brisbane and packed everything in loose cargo. But after consulting with the mover and talking to a few friends, we have decided to buy some basic furniture over. And since we are going to earn money from home, we should also think about getting some good home office furniture.

Our mover had advised on what should be brought along and what need to be left behind. He even said that we have to wash our shoes very clean, making sure that there is no dirt or soil on the walking soles. Furniture is fine as long as there is no untreated wood as that will require fumigation. I asked him about bringing dried foods for Asian cooking and he had advised me not to. That was pretty sad for me cos I was planning to stock up some organic seasonings and dried foods. I know of some people who bring lots of paper products such as toilet rolls! Maybe there are also those who would bring their best weight loss products or skin care with them. Well, whatever that needs to be brought, I was told that they had to be thoroughly cleaned! Fumigation at the Oz customs will cost at least AUD$200 and it can be troublesome too.

With so much to plan and do, I'm sincerely thankful that these things can be done as I continue to earn money from home. The flexibility of time allows to make provisions for meetings and phone calls so all planning can be done faster.

Our Home Office is Moving!

Two weeks ago, we spent a nice afternoon in a friend's house with two big inflatable pools in the garden. Our friend, Viki, was so kind to invite us over for a fun play for the kids and some curry chicken dinner. She just moved to her new home and each time I visited her, I would rave about her cosy home office upstairs.

When you have worked long enough in a home office, it's hard to change this lifestyle. At least this is what DH and myself have decided. We are planning to work from home in Brisbane and DH has been busy with setting up the new website for the business. While he handles the business bit, I'm contacting mover and planning for the move. It's certainly a big task but it will all work out well. I was telling DH that I plan to start a new blog documenting our move to Brisbane. That will serve as a resource stop for anyone moving down under.

A friend commented that I never seemed to put on any weight during our dinner gathering. He was telling me about the many fat burners for women in the marketplace and that I would never need them. Well, I suppose the constant balancing of work and parenting has kept my weight in check and that isn't a bad thing at all.

With the move in place, we'll be shopping for some new furniture in the next few months since everyone is advising us about the huge savings. It is exciting to go shopping for furnitures and the last time we did that was ten years ago! We may see if we can find some good home office furniture here since the prices in Oz can be steep due to currency conversion. Hopefully, the ringgit will strengthen in the next few months so that we can see more in our exchange!

More About My Trip Back

During my last trip back to SG, I had a beautiful evening with few old friends in a fine dining Japanese restaurant called Hiroki. I haven't been to dempsey road for a while and it was nice to see that so many restaurants had mushroomed over the last couple of years.

I found out during the dinner that my friend exercises six hours a week. For me, that was truly admirable as my work at home schedule had not allowed me to do that. I miss those body pump and body combat classes in the gym. These days, going for Pilates classes once or twice a week is already a great achievement for me. Body pump classes are one of the best fat burners if you want to lose some weight. Actually I was supposed to pick up kickboxing last year but couldn't find the time for it.

For my fitness goals, I hope to learn a dance this year and probably pick up kickboxing if I can. If I can't do all these, I would have to postpone it till I move to down under. Hopefully I can find time for more hours of exercise by then.

Update From the Work at Home Mom

Ah... it's been two weeks since I last wrote. Well, I don't know even I'm away from this blog for sooo long! When you work at home, time passes so fast and when the routine just goes on and on...

I just got back from a short trip to Singapore. Even though it was only three nights, I felt good about taking a break from the home office. Well, the truth is, I never quite take a complete break even though I am away most of the time cos there are always online work to be done.

Now that Garage Adventures is closed, traveling with Clayton isn't as easy as before. I dropped him off at Peekabook one of the days when I had to get my hair coloured and cut. He was happy playing there since there were many kids during the one week school break. I mean for a mere S$12 per entry, he could play all day so that was a good deal. The only downfall was, the child minders in Peekabook didn't seem to care if he ate his food or not when he placed his order at their cafe. It was nothing like Garage Adventures and seriously, I miss GA so much!

Albeit the challenging task of shopping with Clayton, I still found time to sneak into Womb for a peek and bought a couple of one-offs. I was sad to hear that more one-offs were arriving the following day but I would be in KL by then! I had dinner with a couple of old friends and we were discussing about diets that work while indulging in our prawn linguini!

The next break from the home office would be one month from now and we'll be off to Hong Kong. I pray that the air quality readings will improve by then cos I just read that the air pollution was at record high today. Not so good news for me at this moment. I trust that things will get better and the weather will change for the good in the next few days and weeks.

Planning to Work at Home in Brissy

Clayton's timetable is finally out! After three long months and the school has finally released the new timetable with the new school hours. He'll go to school for four hours the week after the school holidays. That means more time for me to work at home and starting the day an hour earlier!

I suppose this is good for him as the school has included more fun and play activities in the time table. Previously it was all rather cluttered and there wasn't much time for physical stuff. I could see that they had increased the subject duration and snack time which means the kids don't need to rush through their learning and eating.

Back in the home office, DH has been rather diligent in setting up the website for the new business. There's so much potential in the world of internet marketing and I believe that online business will continue to grow in the next few years. People use the Net for everything these days, from searching jobs in New York to seeking for medical answers. Shopping online has become such a common thing with today's cutting edge technology. With this convenience, I can buy stuff overseas and have them delivered to my doorstep within a short duration.

With the new business, we can continue to work at home in Brissy and enjoy the freedom of time. I am excited with this new venture and look forward to achieving new dreams and goals.

So Much to Do in the Home Office

Parenting and work at home can become more challenging when your child is ill. Infact, it affects me emotionally, physically, causes some havoc to my worklife and mental state of mind. I'm so glad Clayton has recovered and he's back to his normal self.

This week, I'll need to get a mover for a quotation for our move. I was hoping that we could buy our one way air tickets during the Malaysia Travel Fair but due to some logistic issues, I have to delay the booking. But I'm certainly happy that I manage to secure good rates for our Hong Kong air ticket and I can't wait for April to come!

I've been advised to buy our furniture here and have them shipped to Brissie but it's hard to decide when we haven't even bought a place. A friend of ours is planning to buy furniture and lighting fixture during warehouse sales in order to accumulate some savings. For us, we treat it as a one-time investment as part of the migration costs.

Just when we get into the routine in the home office, it's school holidays next week and there'll be another one week break. I'm a little tired to travel to Singapore but it'll be a long time away before the next trip back. Moreover, it's just hard to get things going in the home office when Clayton is around.

There are a few things happening in the next couple of months: creating a website for our new business in Brisbane, training the new partner in the seminar, and working out the moving details. With so much to do in the home office, there's no time for slack in the coming months. The move is really ON!

Work At Home Mom and Her Busy Long Weekend

It was a pretty eventful week for us last week. On Tuesday, the storm and lightning fried the lights and power in our kitchen, my work at home husband's laptop and our modem.

In the past, we used to have such problems when there was a storm but since switching to 3G networks, we had taken things for granted. Now that we are back on land line for internet connection, we have to be extra careful again when thunders roar! I was glad that we got everything fixed and restored within a short time, at the expense of a new laptop and some running around. Nevertheless, we were back online in less than 24 hours - how thankful was I!

We had a long weekend last week with Friday being a public holiday and I was so happy to have a friend visiting from Singapore. That was a very close girl friend whom I love and treasure. She was telling me how consumers these days were getting home insurance quotes online that she had less to do now - she happens to be in the insurance industry. It was nice fellowship and we enjoyed a yummy dinner at our favourite Taiwanese restaurant at The Gardens.

It was a real break from the home office as we visited a friend's CNY open house and house warming party. Then it was even more tiring when the work at home mom had to nurse her boy who was running a temperature. I tend to be more tired when my boy is ill. He tends to wake up at night and that means disturbed sleep for me.



I stole a little time to make my first natural cleaning enzyme made of aloe vera and some lemon. Hopefully it will turn out well in 3 months' time! I found a way to utilize my growing aloe vera garden!

So it's back to the grind this week and it is pretty busy for me as the work at home dad is away in his hometown. And yes, we are in the month of March now... and in nine months' time, we will be bidding farewell to this land.

Weekend Ramble While Staying at Home

What do you do on a hot and humid weekend? There is no way we are hanging out under this scorching heat and so, staying at home is the best bet in order to keep ourselves away from the heat. I figure that my work at home hubby has enough of malls so resting at home would be best since school will start for Clayton next week.

Due to the long festive holiday, I have a pile of overdue online assignments and I'm still rushing to finish them. There are things that I need to do, including doing some online research, reading sleeping aid reviews and settling some banking stuff. There is no end to chores and duties. No wonder there is this familiar phrase of 'So much to do and too little time'.

It's February now and I can't believe we are entering March in a week's time. DH suggested that we should do up our online business website as we prepare for our move to Oz in December. It is both exciting and 'scary' since we are uprooting after ten years here in this place. It's a longer time for DH but for me, it's 10 years here and I'm ready to move on.

Here's wishing everyone, work at home moms and dads and everyone else a good weekend. And don't forget to take time to smell the roses.

Beauty and Heath: Two Good Niche Topics

It always amazes me how technology has dominated our lives greatly. Without it, I don't think I can be a work at home mom and without it, we won't be doing things faster and better. Then again, I must admit that there is always a downside to all things.

There are some businesses out there that are thriving with the help of technology coupled with traditional methods. One of them is hair loss treatment which can be seen in many advertising pages in the newspapers everyday. Many companies are resorting to herbal products to promote hair growth and using technology to accelerate it.

Even though I have a baldy work at home husband, I'm never bothered about his hair style cos I think I won't be too used to him having a head full of hair! Being bald isn't a bad thing for him cos he saves time and money on haircuts and he doesn't have to worry about shampoo and grey hairs! Another upside is, he's looking younger than many friends his age!

Talking about hair loss, this is a good niche to consider if you are working on an online business but just be warned that there's lots of competition out there on this topic too. Beauty and health are two huge topics that can lead to many micro niches which seen many successful affiliates in the Net. If affiliate marketing is not your cup of tea as yet, these topics are also good for adsense but you need to make sure your micro niches have relevant traffic and searches to see the real clicks.

Work at Home Mom on Age Spots

I've never been very concerned about aging until I spotted a few brown spots on my face lately. When you are a work at home mom, you have a bit more time in front of the mirror so when there's a new spot on your face, it is noticeable!

Well, work aside, beauty is a big concern whether you are a work at home mom or a corporate working mom. No woman likes to have an age spot appearing on the face or body, it can be very disturbing. Since I discovered those brown spots, I have been searching for a good product for it. Many of the these spot fading products contain chemicals which may be harmful for the skin. As such, I try to turn to organic or natural ones. I just bought an organic spot fader from Camocare Organics and would monitor the results in the next few weeks.

One good thing about working at home is that I don't go out much and thus, I can avoid the harmful sun rays which is the cause for brown and age spots. Then again, working at home does require me to faithfully put on my sunblock as the light rays can also affect skin pigmentation.

Enough on age spots and beauty, I have two more days of rest before the real work begins next week. For now, it's TGIF!

Work at Home Mom Back from Chinese New Year

Yes, it's been a long time again... the home office was closed for Chinese New Year and it was another break for the work at home mom.

It is always nice to be back home in Singapore... am I missing the pigeon hole, I wonder :) Well, I miss the convenience of public transport and safety. Minus the crowded streets in Orchard, I just love hanging around familiar shops and places. This trip was meaningful as I had dinner with a very dear family who is very special to my heart.

A trip to Guardian Pharmacy had impressed me so much. I was so happy that I could find Akin organic and natural skincare products in GP. Not only are there a few other organic skin and personal care products, there are some clinical acne skin products as well. I was enjoying my shopping experience in Guardian!

Another nice thing was, I could spend some time with my mom as we took her out for a few meals. Though she wasn't a shopper like me, I took her to Ion Orchard, Somerset 313 and Orchard Central. It was a nice and casual outing for us.

Now that I'm back, I need to clear so overdue assignments and the break will soon be over for the work at home mom. I'm missing that already!

Parenting and Work at Home is a Big Job

In few days' time, I'm due for another long break for Chinese New Year. Like it or not, February has come so fast and very soon, the first quarter of the year will be over! Parenting and work at home has been better since ASP started for Clayton though I find my schedule packed with activities and responsibilities everyday.


With the rapid growth in technology, kids are learning at a faster pace and the reach for information has been much easier than before. As work at home parents, we get to screen the information received by our child and there is alot of education to do along the way. It is not uncommon for families to have xbox, playstation and electronic games at home, I know that many parents buy their young children iPods and iTouch to keep them occupied.

While the change of lifestyle may not be all that bad for the next generation, we who are parenting and work at home need to be more vigilant. Parenting is a big job, isn't it?

Work at Home Celebrates

It was such a busy day for me yesterday cos it was DH's birthday and we wanted to make a cake for him! The nice thing about working at home is that I can multitask and do my baking during my break from the home office.



In the previous years, I had done a chicken roast dinner for the family as DH is one person who likes to celebrate his birthday in a quiet manner. I mean, he prefers not to disclose his age to all his friends - not that he really cares :) But we like to keep things simple and big celebrations just don't sit well for us. So I did some shopping for the baking and whipped up a moist chocolate cake with frosting in the evening when Clayton returned from school. Though he didn't helped much, it was nice to get him involved!

It is hard to buy DH a present as he doesn't really need anything! Maybe I should consider getting him a nordictrack coupon since he just broke his gym stick few days ago! Then again, we are heading to watch our long awaited Avatar movie in 3D tomorrow! Finally!

It's going to be a mad rush for me in the home office before the Chinese New Year holiday break! I just can't wait to go back to Singapore - I miss my hometown!