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.

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?

perhaps a vacation is Phuket is coming!

DH is talking about a trip to do his kite surfing. I volunteered to be the babysitter and he could see that he wasn't too excited. Then again, I reminded him that the hotel rates will be the same whether he's traveling alone or with us so that sort of settled his uncertainly.

After doing a quick search on Phuket vacation, AirAsia seems to offer a good deal of around RM400 (incl taxes and fees) for the month of June. As for hotels in Phuket, it depends on where you plan to stay. Since his kite surfing would most likely be in Nai Yang Beach, we would probably choose a phuket accommodation in that area. So the TOP 5 Phuket hotels for your next Phuket vacation:

Indigo Pearl, Nai Yang (see above photos)

JW Marriott Spa & Resort

Mom Tri's Boathouse Hotel

Amari Coral Beach Resort Hotel

Holiday Inn Resort

there's no better time to show your love

How are you showing that you care this holiday season? Christmas is a wonderful time to show love and care to those around you and those you cared for. It's nice to know that there are businesses who are reaching out to the heros out there who are serving the country. The Gallery Collection will be donating Christmas Cards and working alongside with Soldier's Angels, a non-profit organization, and sending each soldier a special card of thanks and love. There is no better time than to support these wonderful and sacrificial soldiers and their families - be generous with your donations. For more information, go to soldiersangels.org

Water Park @ Vivo City

We took Clayton to the water park at Singapore's latest mall - Vivo City and he had a ball of a time! He splashed, he jumped, he waddled and he refused to get out! He got all wet and we had to take off his pants because we were least prepared for a wet and wild trip! This place is a great place for toddlers and children - no kids would resist the fun in an open water park like this one! This is such a great place for families on the weekends - now you know why I adore my hometown!

Disney World for you?

What do you think of when I mention Orlando? Disney World, of course! But that's not it? Do you know that this city has 52 theme parks? And it is home to the second largest convention center in the world!

I've never been to Orlando but with this attractive facts, and beaches within an hour reach, I should consider including it into our list of family vacations. Since we became parents, travelling to family friendly and child friendly destinations is priority. It is helpful to know that there are vacation homes near Disney, which is also my preferred choice of accommodation. Vacation homes are more spacious, have a homely feel, allows cooking facilities and less restrictions.

Now, we can't wait for Clayton to grow up so that we can get on in all those fun rides!

Another great vacation site

Malaysia Airlines is launching a page full of special fares and travel deals in the newspaper. My good friend, Tracy has booked her coming vacation to South Africa and I'm so excited for her.

As for me, I don't get to plan our family vacations til the second quarter of the year. Usually, we need to work around our seminar schedule. Hawaii, California, Japan, Hong Kong are some of the possible holiday destinations for this year. For who knows, I may consider a costa rica vacation!

I have just discovered a new holiday booking site with some of the most alluring photos. This website offers high end vacations at great rates. You can check the culture, resorts, accommodation, tours, travel information of your desired destination. Along with the detailed information, the featured photos are dramatic and captivating. It looks like I've found another great site to surf for our next family vacation.

Bang for your Buck!

Most of us love to travel but going on a holiday can be costly unless you do some careful planning. Here are some ways to save:

• Airfare
Compare carrier: Unless you are going on a package tour, you can save quite a bit by choosing the right airline to fly with. The carrier you chose can vary between S$200-S$500. Look out for promotional prices and travel fairs.

Direct flights usually cost more than those with stopovers. But don't forget that you will waste more time for transits or stopovers.

Flying by day or night can also determine a price difference. Depending on destinations, some carriers charge more for night flights than day ones.

Peak or off-peak? As we all know, peak periods (school holidays or holiday season) can be dearer. You can save about $300 when flying on non-peak periods.

• Accommodation
Spending your nights in a three-star would cost less than a five-star hotel. Chances are, you won't be spending that much time in the luxurious room. Check on last minute deals (ratestogo.com or wotif.com) which can be cheaper than usual. Tip: Avoid doing this during peak season. Last minute deals mean you can't book way way ahead.

• Sightseeing
If you are on budget, choose a package where everything is included.Travel agents can get better rates with no hidden costs. However, all-sights inclusive option can mean lesser flexibility.

I learn about this fantastic website from Creamaid called Luggage Online which actually has '50 Best Sites Which You've Probably Never Heard Of'. You can find all sorts of resources in these listed sites when planning for your next vacation. You can read about real travellers' experiences, view photos of your desired destination, compare hotel prices, search for information, plan your itinerary from these sites. There is something for EVERYONE - backpacker to vegan traveller!

I think this is an amazing resource, a bookmark every traveller msut keep!