Tips for moms to be

Are you expecting? Here's a quick tip for moms to be.

Studies show that regular exercise during pregnancy helps to improve sleep quality, boosts your energy level throughout the day, decreases depression, and protects you against back pain and gestational diabetes (two common problems during pregnancy). Most importantly, it helps you avoid gaining too much weight, getting fat, getting stretch marks, and getting those awful cellulite dimples.

So moms to be... go for that morning walk, yoga class and light exercise.. fit ball is great!

Eliminating Debts

Let's get straight to the point here: Do you have debts? It can be credit cards debts, home renovation debts, new home debts, car loan debts, personal debts, bads debts... whatever. There is but one common agreement, that is, we all don't enjoy being in debt!

So, how is a website that talks about how you can transform debt into wealth. Wait a minute... what did I just said? How can anyone transform debt into wealth? Author of the World's Bestselling Personal Debt Elimination Program, John Cummuta has released an online program to teach people how to "retire a debt-free millionaire".

I know it sounds unbelievable but if the world's most successful coach, Anthony Robbins, would invite John to speak in his wealth creation seminars, there is be something unique and credible about this system.

If you are still keen to know more about how to pay off debt, check out the site.

Ranting

The internet was down for a few hours earlier and it caused so much disruptions. Somehow, I manually configured the system after the advice of Telekom's technician and still, it wouldn't worked.

Got a big lecture from my DH for calling in to lodge the report cos it brought trouble than help.

ARggrhhhh...

Wanna be a US citizen?

Many of our friends are planning for migration with some in the midst of application. It seems like the few most popular countries people are opting for are namely Australia, New Zealand and US.

Before our Aussie migration was approved, DH was contemplating on a US citizenship application. It is not surprising why he thinks about that. His close cousins live in California and his youngest brother, in Sans Francisco. Besides, he did his high school and university studies in Arizona.

As with any kind of migration, you need to be sure of your decision and feel comfortable about your chosen destination. Also, migration agents have one advice in common: Apply before laws change! With the advent of internet technology, you can apply for US citizenship online conveniently with guided instructions for new applicants. In case you don't know, it can be an overwhelming and confusing process of becoming a US Citizen but here is a website that presents the important information in a simple and understandable way. Most importantly, you save money on engaging lawyers.

My brother in law is a PR in US while his cousins are now citizens. Let's look at some perks of becoming a US citizen (courtesy of uscitienship.info):

1. The right to vote and obtain certain federal jobs
2. Security from anti-immigrant laws
3. Security from removal
4. The right to live or take long trips outside the United States
5. Special rights and protections when traveling outside the United States
6. An unquestioned right to return to the United States
7. The ability to bring other family members to the United States (faster than you could as a permanent resident)
8. The right to apply for public benefits
9. Cost savings in renewing Green card every 10 years (in fees and time)
10. Pass Citizenship to your children

Do you have a health-related blog?

Do you have a health-related blog? If you do, head down and submit your blog to CheckUpToday.com

It doesn't matter what your page rank is and you don’t have to have a dot com, dot net, or dot org in order to be considered.

The only requirement is that you have a passion for your topic and some “In Your Shoez” bling on your blog.

Checkup Today is a grassroots health network of real people that have a heart and passion for sharing what it’s like to walk a thousand miles in their shoes. It seeks to cover all ends of the health spectrum by showcasing your talents and pointing people to your health blogs.

So, got a health-related blog, head to CheckUp Today now! Be the first 20 contributors to get approved and you get to bring 2 extra sites/blogs to the site! Oh yes, I'm the first 20 whose blog got approved so I'll be bringing 2 more of my blogs with me!

Let's go cell phone shopping!

Who doesn't own a cell phone? Hands up! None? Who likes a new cell phone? Hands up! Oops! I see many hands!

Let's go cell phone shopping for some chic cool phones!



1) Motorola V3 Cherry Blossom Tattoo
This pink cell phone is about style, trend and fashion. It is designed as the thinnest flip phone with feminine florals on the cover. Equipped with bluetooth technology, camcorder/camera, and a 2.2” color display, this is a pretty phone for any lady with likes to be coordinated.



2) Motorola Dolce Gabbana RAZR
If you are a fan of high fashion lines, Dolce Gabbana will be a familiar name. This phone has Gold Plated Aluminum Shell And Etched Precision-crafted Keypad, and it's incredibly thin and light - it's less than 1/2 inch thick! Living up to the high fashion brand name, it comes with bluetooth wireless technology abd the 1.23 Megapixel Digital Camera takes pictures of print quality. For those who fave digital videos, the phone takes extra long video clips.

If you still like to do more shopping, look no further as Wirefly has great deals on T-Mobile RAZRs, smartphones, wireless PC cards and much more! Don't miss the special deals from T-Mobile, some cell phones come with freebies such as bluetooth headset, other accessories and free rebates.

Visit Cell Phone Shop and save up to 80% on your cell phone accessories.

Spills from my heart...

Today is the 2nd official day of my complete end to this nursing journey. I made this decision after knowing that I might have asthma. And since the doctor confirmed it, I have decided to go on a detox once I complete all medications.

I'm a firm believer of treating the root cause of a disease or physical condition. I won't accept what the doctor claims to be untreatable or incurable for certain sicknesses. To begin my detox program, nursing would have to stop or the toxins may pass on to Clayton.

But know what, I didn't know it is affecting me emotionally until a short chat with my good friend earlier on. I was getting emotional, with tears welling up my eyes, when I told her that I had stopped nursing Clayton. He would cry and wail for a while (don't know how long cos I am so tired) and I felt so sad. I was tempted to give in and let him nursed a little more but I couldn't. It was tough love...

I held him close to me and talked nicely, gently and praying that he would understand what I said. Thankfully, he would settle for apple juice after a while... it was alot of patience and calmness. I was glad that he dozed off to sleep after that and when morning came, he would be smiling again...

Let's go property shopping

I was chatting with my pal, Rosalind who had just got their Australia business visa approved. This was definitely good news and they had already booked an apartment in the heart of Melbourne, Victoria.

It would our turn to go property searching in a couple of years' time. As we are still deciding where to settle ourselves, we would need to do alot more research than expected. The time will come to tap on the resources I found at Property Mart Overseas. Know what, this website offers properties in 92 countries, take your pick of houses, apartments, penthouses, studios etc... most importantly, they offer attractive deals on the listed properties.



The website gives a quick glance of your desired location and you can view the number of properties available in the city. I was taking a quick look at Germany and 98 houses in germany with most concentrating on Berlin were listed.



Unfortunately, I couldn't find any in Australia yet, but since it's a fairly new site, I'll be expecting to see some in the next few months.

Herbal (Viagra)

Say Viagra and what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Men! Sex! Pfizer! What else?

In Malaysia, the use of the herb, Tongkat Ali, is said to deliver similar optimum results as the Viagra drug, but only in the natural form. Before I proceed further, I must clarify my personal opinion on using male performance oral aids. I think the invention of Viagra can help to improve the sexual lives of marriage couples, especially for men with certain physical conditions such as lack of energy and stamina, libido and abnormal male sexual function. But whether or not the side effects of the drug is detrimental to health on prolonged use, I am not qualified to offer a comment.



I found out about a herbal Viagra, Mega-V which combines a blend of Tongkat Ali and some Chinese traditional herbs that are said to improve masculine energy. It is a formulation to support healthy, normal male sexual function and ultimately, helps to enhance sexual relationships between couples. Mega-V contains Tongkat Ali, Panax Ginseng, Cordyceps Sinensis and Horny Goat Weed. If you are familiar to sexual health supplements, you may find these ingredients familiar as the product is 100% herbal and does not contain any chemicals or drug prescriptions found in Viagra, Levitra and Cialis.

So if you really, really help to enhance the sexual intimacy with your wife or husband, go for the natural option.

Business information on Encyclocentral

Need a quick glance on businesses available in the Net, check out theBusiness & Finance category at this e-encyclopaedia. Take for instance, if you are sourcing for a clocks manufacturer, you can read more about Ridgeway Clocks. Or how about finding out more about what is citrus fruit processing? Do you know that this is a lucrative profession that complements strongly to the world of cuisine.

Writing for sponsored reviews

I have been writing for Sponsored Reviews for a little while and kinda enjoy the bidding system. Though I wish every advertiser would take the effort to decline the bids if the price is not right instead of leaving us bloggers at the pending status. Anyways, can't complain as I have received a few approved assignments from advertisers. The 35% cut from sponsored reviews takes a little while to get used to but come to think about it, this is an open system and it's good.

Last Sunday, I was overjoyed when I got an approved review of $35!! But sadly, I received an email alert from Sponsored Reviews that the post was put out using a stolen credit card - arrgrrhhh... well, at least I didn't start writing, just a little disappointment over the event.

Overall, I like sponsored reviews... just hoping for more approved bids though :)

*This is NOT a sponsored post... I wish it is!!

A marketing blog on social media and SEO

The hot topic in and around the blogosphere has been social networking or social media. Personally, I have been working on getting my readers to particpate in my blog. The author of a marketing blog, britoplan.com explains his thoughts on the 5 distinct characteristics of social media, which are:

• Participation
• Openness, transparency and disclosure
• Conversation
• Community Driven
• Facilitation (facilitating conversations that are already happening online)

Well, like it or not, most of us bloggers are tapping on the power of social media to draw more traffic and get new visitors. Some of us have understood a little of SEO and start to work on link exchanges and working on increasing the page rankings of our sites.

I'm quite encouraged to read from britoplan.com that SEO is not rocket science... the truth is, I am made to believe by some internet marketers that it is! I guess I have much to learn from the author, who happens to be a SEO expert in the bay area for his company. And if you are keen, you can learn some tips from him too.

I have asthma??

My worst fears came true today... the doctor told me I had asthma :(

I've never had asthma in my entire life so this is a hard truth to accept. My question is always: Is this going to be long-term? Personally, I've always been an advocate for alternative medicine and natural treatment methods. I stand on the philosophy of 'First, Do no harm". But this persistent cough in the wee hours of the morning has been troubling me for a long time and I know that I have to do something about it.

I'm that sort who will question the doctor ever detail about why I need this medicine, what are the side effects, how long do I need to be on it... etc. The doctor gave me an example of a man who refused to accept his medical condition and had to be admitted to the hospital on an emergency asthma attack. He seemed to be 'scaring' me...

I'm still wondering if I should take the second course of antibiotics... see, I'm anti-drugs!

For me, this is more than a physical condition but a spiritual awakening. I feel that the Lord is knocking that door of my heart for a long time, and this time, He did it 'loud'.

A few things to put in place after a visit to the doctor today:
Fix my spiritual life
Get back on a regular exercise routine
Get more physical rest
Learn to stay calm and take things easy
Be positive and have faith

I truly believe that this 'asthma' condition will be temporal... I will recover in no time, as long as I practice on the above. If you who are reading this is a believer in Christ, please pray for me.

Let's go shopping with coupons!

Are you an impulse shopper? Sometimes, I hate to think that I am one but perhaps I am :) I don't have the luxury to take my own sweet time to make my shopping purchases as DH dislikes shopping. So I'll sneak out in between meal and waiting times for a quick look around and it is common for me to end up buying something within 10-15mins.

Couple of weeks ago, I walked into a Massimo Dutti shop and bought four tops within 25 mins. If you ask me, I prefer to shop online at the convenience of my home office. This is especially so when I know that great savings are available at Coupon Chief, my one-stop coupon site! Most of the participating stores offer free shipping coupons for purchases above a certain amount.


Right now, when you shop using Target coupons, you receive a $5 off for every $50 spent and free shipping on orders over $50 in Women's apparel. For jewelry lovers, Blue Nile coupons offers a 20% on the Sterling Silver Diamond Heart Tag Bracelet, a timely gift for mom on Mother's day.

Clayton's drumming session

The couple had taken their vows. The guests had proceeded for the light refreshments. The photographers are busy with capturing more shots of the couple for the album...

my little boy had found himself some 'serious' recreation. This was caught on video by Tracy.

Outsourcing

I believe in the value of my time... which means focusing on what I'm good at and outsourcing what I have no skills or passion for! In our business, DH takes care of the strategy bit and I'll focus on the marketing and design. But when it comes to accounting, neither of us has the skills to get it right.

Now that we have a couple of employees, we need to find a qualified person to take care of payroll matters. Some companies charge exorbitant rates for bookkeeping and accounting work so it's important to talk to a few and get a quotation first before deciding on who to engage. When making a choice, find out how the company works and look for one that doesn't require you to sign a long term contract. As always, select one that has proven track records and understands small businesses.

If you need more help, have a look at the services offered at Accounting Paradise and the discount on Quickbooks.

Wedding dinner

I



A candid taken during the wedding dinner of Dexter and Kim... Clayton was a good boy last night. That was the first time he sat through in his high chair the entire dinner! I was so thankful for those 'digger' cards and shapes flash cards. He saw all the kids running around but didn't even gave us any trouble for keeping him in the chair...

The holy grail of SEO

I've never know what Search Engine Optimization (SEO) really is until I attended an internet marketing workshop last year. I admitted that I was confused about this whole topic about SEO then... had totally no clue whenever a discussion on this was carried out in our circle of business friends.

What I really like about the internet is the amount of knowledge I derived from it. Over the last 9 months, I read, searched and put in the efforts to find out why is SEO such a holy grail in the world of internet marketing.

The main purpose of SEO for many websites, businesses and bloggers is to draw more website traffic to the site and to obtain page rankings. This is a skill that requires careful research, analysis and investigation by skilled experts in the field.

In all SEO matters, the proper use of keywords remain crucial to optimize a site and be found in the search engines. What many would aim is to appear in Google's first few pages. To achieve that, companies are willing to spend on getting their products and services in top rankings on search engines. This is all about getting searched and being seen, which in turn will generate more buzz for companies, and hopefully to increase awareness and affect the bottom line profits.

Let the photos do the talking..

They say pictures speak a thousand words... so I'll let them do the talking today...



Flower girl, Claire adores Clayton


Here comes the bride...




Isn't she lovely?



This is the bridegroom! Oh.. he can twist his tongue like this .... practising for the night, I guess :)

FREE ipod giveaway

Is this another advertising hype? You got to findout to believe this: 30 gig ipod give away! No Joke! All you need is to open either a free checking, Free Web Billpay & Direct deposit account at www.addisonavenue.com. It is only a 2-step process to get a FREE ipod, really.

No minimum requirements, no hidden fees. It's that simple... and it's paperless!

Dexter and Kim ties the knot!

Today is going to be an exciting day... I'm attending my good friend's wedding. Dexter and Kim ties the knot today! Yay! We are so happy for both of them and can't wait to see he bride... ya, who really want to see the bridegroom - ha ha! Just kidding! I know Dexter will be reading this so I better write something nice lol.

More reports and pictures of the wedding later...

Bonsai

Ever wonder what those small little 'manicured trees' in the houses of green fingers' enthusiasts? I'm sure you come across 'Bonsai' but do you know what it mean? 'Bon' actually means 'tray' and 'Sai means 'growing' and 'planting'. So it literally means 'tray planting' or 'tray growing'.

All I know is that this is an enquisite art popular among the hobbyists and it requires lots of patience, dedication and devotion! Here's a detailed body of information if you are a bonsai enthusiasts or thinking of being one.

I found my shopping cart software!

My good friend shared a business idea with me during our get together dinner few weeks ago. It was related to selling artistic things and immediately, I suggested to create an online store. Personally, I have no experience with setting up an online store. I have only gotten to being an affiliate, blogging and design some web headers but never close to knowing how to have start a shopping cart store.

I have consulted some internet marketing friends on how I can get started but the answers I get are vague, no one seems to point me to a good resource. Then I come across an award winning shopping cart software by Ashop Commerce. The site allows me to do a test drive of the software which is a fantastic way to get a feel of features and functions. I am impressed by the user-friendliness of how I can manage my visitors and buyers, content, layout, categories and analyze the statistics of the hits. I never know it is so easy to start an online store... whew!

Moreover, there is no installation required and I am able to access the program wherever I am. Subscribing to an Ashop Commerce ecommerce software include free technical support, live help, secure hosting, fasting uploading, free upgrades for LIFE, daily backups, secure checkout, free SSL certificate and more! The starter pack is from $99 AUD per month with a few other plans, depending on your online business needs.

Looks like I have more homework to do in the next few weeks, to explore and find out more about the software. If you like, try out for a FREE 10-day trial!

Send an orchid on Mother's Day!

I haven't met any woman who doesn' t like receiving flowers. Sending flowers has always been a symbol of gratitude, love, friendship, comfort, apology and cheer. Don't ask me why but I always enjoy being around flowers. They give me a sense of calmness, peace and wellness. One of my favourite activities is to visit the nursery and I always end up buying too much flowers. It just makes me feel good!



This Mother' Day, if you are confused with the many gift options out there, sending a lovely orchid or plant from flowershop.com is unique and exotic. This family-owned online store has lots of offer - gourmet gift baskets, flower arrangements, fruit baskets or even luxury gifts. With a secure transaction and guaranteed service, this is a good stop to pick a nice order of Mother's Day flowers.

A pink RAZR cell phone for mum

My mum is not a techno savvy person and I don't expect her to be, really. She's in her 50s, close to retirement, grown up in those days where having a TV set in the house is a luxury... I mean, what do you expect?

2 years ago, she picked up a phone while walking home from work. She was so excited that she called my brother right away to ask what to do. You need to know that my mum has never owned a cell phone. After careful instructions from my brother, she bought herself a pre-paid calling card and started learning how to use a cell phone. I was happy that she had finally learnt how to use a cell phone. For a long time, I had wanted to buy her a phone but she just refused. It was something to do with the fear of the unfamiliar!


Well, it's Mother's day this weekend. I am just wondering if I should get her a new phone to replace this old one. Apparently, I can get a brand new FREE free RAZR cell phone with a new Cingular wireless account! And it's mum's favourite colour: pink! How nice! How timely! And here's another BONUS! - a Motorola H3 Grey Bluetooth Headset worth $70! What a deal!

Natural mouthwash

Do you use a mouthwash? I don't cos I hate the taste of those mouthwash on the pharmacy shelves. I think they taste like medicine! Once, I tried gargling Listerine in my mouth and before I could hold it for a second, I spat out!

I found a natural remedy for a soothing mouthwash. Just use one teaspoon of chlorophyll, straight or diluted in one-half cup water, about couple of times a day. Work the liquid around your teeth and hold it in the mouth for two or three minutes. This remedy can also be used to speed up your recovery from a tooth surgery.

Is cold calling a waste of time?

DH and myself have been cold calling for the past 5 years in our seminar business. Just as we think this is 'the way' to get new leads and clients, I came across this site, Never Cold Call Again, which teaches people in the sales industry, business owners like myself, how to get sales without cold calling. Well, for a moment, it makes me think that Cold Calling Is A Waste Of Time. Well, you can get a 10-chapter free download of their home study course, written by Frank Rumbauskas, a NY Times bestselling author.

Are you also in sales? Wanna stop cold calling? Better head down to www.nevercoldcall.com

You don't like raw salads?

Do you like raw salads? If you don't, take heart. Raw salads cannot be easily digested by some. In fact, cooked vegetables and raw vegetable juice together are almost the same a eating a raw salad. In many cases, this combination can help to eliminate gas. So don't feel 'unhealthy' if your friend next to you is munching raw greens during lunch... get your portion of vegetable juices or cooked vegetables and you'll do just fine :)

Mum's planning for retirement

My mum will be retiring in a couple of years' time. I'm hoping that she will take a step back and allow herself to enjoy the pleasures of life instead of keeping busy all the time. She's been wondering what she should do with her retirement funds and has been looking for some options. The article at www.flexibleRetirementPlanner.com features a good article on what to look for when choosing a better retirement planner. I'm heading down for a good read before sharing the ideas with my mum the next time I visit her.

A day in the life of a WAHM

It had been quite a stressful day. My 2.5 year old was living up to the name of "Terrible Two" the entire afternoon since he got back from nursery. I thought he would be 'satisfied' with 3 hours of playing in school but he came back and wanted more! He demanded that I had to sit in his playroom with him and I couldn't even find the peace to blog a proper post. I suspected that he was overtired and getting him to nap but....

He continued his crankiness and 10 minutes ago, he knocked out and snoozed into dreamland. I finally get to do a decent post.... sigh.... what a day!

Have you had lasik?

Just 3 days ago, my close girlfriend from Singapore told me over instant messenger that she had her Lasik done. I asked how it was and she responded with such joy in her words of having 'perfect eyesight' now. Since then, she had been swimming weekly and jogging regularly with great convenience!



My brother in law who lives in San Francisco got his done 2 years ago but unfortunately, the results was not as pleasant as my girlfriend. I've always have mixed feelings as the life stories I have heard from people who have had lasik are diverse. Even DH who was close to getting lasik done had changed his mind after hearing the poor results from his own brother.

For now, I'm still comfy with wearing glasses though I do complain about occasional stress headaches from over-wearing. And with contact lens, they make my eyes dry and uncomfortable.

But who knows, I may decide to still choose lasik in few years' time when long sightedness sets in...

It's about choice

I was pondering over what my blogger friend, Violet wrote about how we chose to view events that took place in our lives. Sometimes, I tend to feel weary, irritated and negative about daily events. These lousy thoughts do take a toll on my emotions which worsen when I feel overwhelmed.

Amidst these thoughts, I would be reminded to count my blessings...

• instead of getting upset with a toddler who demands my attention, I should be glad that he is healthy, happy, active and smart.

• instead of complaining about the heat today, I should be thankful that I'm sitting in an air-con room, that I don't have to work on the construction site.

• instead of focusing on the negatives, it feels calmer to think positive.

So it's about about choice... choosing the right views, thoughts and actions. What's yours?

Judy and Sam loves golf!

Judy and Sam is a lovely couple I treasure and love whom I also regard as my big sister and brother. I have known them for almost 20 years, so close to the family that Sam was the one who walked me down the aisle on my big day. Judy is a HR professional who is always so warm, generous, kind and approachable.

This couple shares a common interest and passion, which is, golfing. They would include golf as a must do activity during family vacations and they are both good golfers too. In fact, Sam used to be my personal coach for 3 months before I love to KL.

I'm quite certain that they are going to love myrtle beach golf vacation packages for their coming anniversary. They are at an age where their teenage children are independent which allows them more time together as a couple. A golf vacation like this can rekindle their marriage and allow a time of relaxation, fun and enjoyment.

Dosh Dosh deals with Technorati Favourites Exchange criticisms

Just a couple of weeks ago, I followed the Technorati Favourites Exchange movement going on in the blogosphere and initiated by Dosh Dosh. Through this experiment, I have received many new visitors to my blogs and did my exchanges too.

As with any matter in the blogosphere, this Technorati Favourites Exchange has sparked lots of criticism and led to more discussions on whether this exchange is right or wrong. We all know that there will never be a definite right or wrong to anything, everyone reserves the right to state his/her opinion and basically, if you find this movement a conflict with your principles, then don't follow it. But if you think it can do some good to your web presence, why not hop in and make more friends and along the way, make new discoveries too.

I enjoy how the author of Dosh Dosh, Maki, dealt with these criticisms. Before you click on the link and read the details, go grab a coffee, answer your nature's call and you are all set.. let me warn you that it's a super duper long post. Don't forget to go through the comments too... they are definitely worth a read.

Updates of Clayton's playroom

It's been a week since Clayton has stopped attending nursery due to the school's temporary closure caused by Hands, Foot and Mouth disease. It is a tiring week for us.

Today is the 4th day he has his own play room. Everything seems ok and he's getting used to hanging out in his new hide out. I can sense that he is bored being stuck in the room all day so he will take TV break downstairs every now and then. Yet, this is better than having him in our home office all day.

DH and myself agreed that this is one of the right things we did - that is to create a 'space' for him. It feels good not to have to hop around toys around the office! I'm sure that with a little more time, he should be able to stay in the room by himself longer... and happier.

Job seeking site for sign language interpreters

Online job seeking sites are not new these days and they have helped to connect many job seekers with potential employers. But a niche online career and job site like TerpJobs is unique in providing jobs for sign language interpreters. Sign language is a skill that is not easily acquired and for this group of qualified sign language interpreters, you can now find your employer, realize your dreams through TerpJobs. You can post your resume online while searching for available jobs in the website.

For employers, if you are in need of a sign language interpreter, you can approach TerpJobs for your employment needs, saving you the trouble to place classified ads in the newspapers. All you need to do is to register an account with TerpJobs and after which, post your ad online and wait for the right candidates to apply for the job.

Kauai Condos

Mention Hawaii and you get me all excited and enthusiastic. We are planning for our family vacation end of the year and I am surely looking forward to it. My first Hawaii trip was dated 2004 and since that one trip, it was hard to forget the exotic, friendly and casual ambience of this lovely island.

I am so thankful that DH has agreed to the Hawaii trip and believe it or not, I'm already started my research on accommodations. I'm looking at renting a condo near Waikiki beach. Don't ask me why but I just love this beach. I caught the best sunset on camera in 2004 and I want to do it again! The kauai condos are looking good too, so are the ones in Oahu and Maui. Previously, I would just pick a nice hotel that is accessible but now, it has to be child-friendly and spacious. Some of these condos have amenities such as a nice children play area and heated pool, not forgetting sweeping ocean views from the balcony. Nice locations, especially those near the beach don't come cheap but well, it is convenient to just take a stroll (barefooted) as in when you like.

Moreover, December is a cool month in Hawaii. What I like about it is the temperate climate. All you need is a T-shirt and shorts and you can walk barefooted on the streets - many people do that! Oh, and don't forget the shopping too... DH would probably like to go for some snorkelling trips and Clayton can have fun with sand castles on the beach.

Enough said... I'm already in a vacation mood but I can't! I've got work to do and projects to complete before I can let my hair loose and enjoy! Here's more information about what's going on in Hawaii...


-----------------------------------

Hawaii and Press Release:

Growing Ecotourism Industry In Hawaii Protects Environmental Assets While Increasing Profits Ecotourism is nature and culture based tourism that is ecologically sustainable and supports the well being of local communities. Commercial entities have become a positive influence on the environment because they promote a tourism industry that is environmentally and culturally sensitive while increasing profits. The availability of vacation accommodations through online resources such as HawaiianBeachRentals.com affords tourists the opportunity to plan a customized, environmentally-friendly vacation.

Maui, HI (PRWeb) December 30, 2006 -- According to the Hawaii Ecotourism Association (HEA), ecotourism is nature and culture based tourism that is ecologically sustainable and supports the well being of local communities. Commercial entities have become a positive influence on the environment because they promote a tourism industry that is environmentally and culturally sensitive while increasing profits. The availability of vacation accommodations through online resources such as HawaiianBeachRentals.com affords tourists the opportunity to plan customized, environmentally-friendly Hawaii vacations.

Recent statistics published in dBusinessNews reveal that visitor expenditures in Maui totaled 3.1 billion dollars in 2005 and 2.9 billion dollars in 2004. Maui's tourism sector is sound and growing, as evidenced by the fact that hotel occupancy is well above average for the Hawaiian Islands. Since Maui's economy is tourism-based, practicing ecotourism protects valuable environmental assets while luring savvy travelers to experience the raw beauty of a Pacific Island. Visiting an online vacation site is the simplest way to plan a customized trip to Maui or Kauai based on the principles of ecotourism. Jeff Berzolla of Hawaiian Beach Rentals states that, "We have traditionally specialized in providing our customers with alternative trips to Hawaii allowing them to stay in unique places and helping them coordinate the details of their dream vacation, be it romantic, active or relaxation focused. Also, our staff enjoys living and playing in Hawaii. Time off is often spent visiting the units we rent to our customers, whether they're Maui vacation rentals or condos on Kauai, to better understand the Islands and the beautiful paradise we share with the world."

According to Wayne Nastri, the western regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 95 million dollars has been committed to Hawaii within the past year to correct environmental violations while preventing future pollution. Clearly, capitalists and tree huggers are now teaming up as opposed to being at odds, finding it more progressive and profitable to protect the environment rather than exploit it. Environmentally responsible hotels known as "green hotels" use energy and natural resources in environmentally-friendly ways and give visitors a realistic Hawaiian experience without compromising the world around them. As a result, breathtaking natural wonders such as the majestic Na Pali coast can be found just steps away from many Kauai vacation rentals. Hawaiian vacations offer hiking, boating, snorkeling and whale watching in an unaffected, natural habitat. Since it is the incredible flora and fauna of Hawaii that lures vacationers, it is in the best interest of big business to protect the environment to keep the visitors coming back.

According to a recent poll of HEA members, to be considered as genuinely engaging in ecotourism, Hawaii travel operators need to minimize the negative impact on Hawaii's natural environment, cultural heritage and local communities, as well as maximize the positive impact on these factors. Additionally, rental operators must foster an appreciation of Hawaii's sense of place among staff and visitors. The spirit of the land is referred to as "aina" in Hawaii. Kauai condo rentals and hotels are sensitive to this "aina" because they are built with special care to have the least impact possible on the precious local land and wildlife. Securing such accommodations is easy with the online help of informed locals. Jeff Berzolla further says, "We like working with folks that have a passion for travel and want a customized experience that only a local person can help coordinate. Hawaiian Beach Rentals offers accommodations such as vacation homes, condos and hotels, as well as airfare and car rentals to customers wanting to travel to Hawaii. We want to help our customers have a unique experience in Hawaii so we can show them what Aloha is all about. Our services include the most up to date local information about Hawaii and the ability for customers to quickly and easily pay for their vacation online via a secure payment process."

A savvy traveler seeking information about ecotourism-based excursions to Maui and Kauai can visit HawaiianBeachRentals.com for additional details. Take advantage of technology to plan the most unique, socially-conscious trip of a lifetime!

A digital photo frame for my mum

Since I started blogging actively, I would make a conscious effort to bring my digital camera wherever I go. I like to capture candid shots of Clayton and other special moments with loved ones and friends.

I love capturing photos of Clayton with my mum and I know she enjoys it too. But I have a problem. As I often take continuous candid shots, it is expensive to process all the digital photos into prints. My mum doesn't have a computer and I don't travel with my laptop either. Due to that, I will only develop a few photos for mum and she would be questioning me on the other shots taken.

It looks like I have found a solution for this now! I can buy her a digital photo frame! With that, I could just load the memory card into the frame and she can view ALL the photos I've taken. These digital frames are available in various sizes and designs, depending on your preference and needs.

This is such a nice idea as it will also keep her 'company' since she doesn't get to see Clayton and me that often. With a digital photo frame, I don't have to worry about processing photos, hurdling my laptop and I can make mum happy.

Bid more to stay in Top 10

With the current Google PR in progress, there are some companies who love to have higher PR and more traffic to their website. Well, with this new bid link directory, Big Web Links Directory will place your URL in the Top 10 links based not on popularity, as with most directories, but on your highest bid amount.

In other words, if you like to be in the home page, you can adjust the bid amount to appear as one of the Top 10, plus your link will also appear in the top 20 listings in the top links page. This means your chances of being seen is higher by more consumers and users of the directory.

A recipe video

Here's how to prepare Shrimp Pad Thai:

Ingredients:

• Pad Thai Noodles, 10 oz.
• Sliced Shrimp, 6 oz.
• Bean Sprouts, 1 oz.
• Scallion, 1 oz.
• Whole Egg, 1 each
• Pad Thai Sauce, 4 oz.
• Ground Peanut, 1 tsp.
• Lime Wedge, 1 each
• Bean Sprouts, 1 oz.

• Pad Thai Sauce
• White Wine Vinegar 1qts
• Tomato Paste 2oz
• Sugar 3cups
• Fish Sauce 2cups
• Minced Garlic 1/4cup
• Jalapenos Minced 3ea
• Chili Flakes 1tbls
• Soy Sauce 2cups
• Yield 2 quarts

Instructions:

Bring heat to high on wok.
Add oil, egg and noodles; stir; add all vegetables; mix well.
Add Pad Thai Sauce and shrimp; stir very well.
Garnish with nuts, lime and sprouts

Here's your link for more Seafood Recipes.

My Page Rank updates

I've got good news!

With the current Google PR updates, this blog is now PR4 (previously 3). My health blog is gone to PR3 now and to my pleasant surprise, my shopping blog has gone from 0 to 4! I'm a little disappointed that home office women stays at 3 but well, I'm still thankful that it hasn't slided down.

Prophetline

In tough times, every company or business need to create more value by learning how to create dynamic partnerships inside and outside of the organization. Not only is it important to build up your business, you need to work on repeat and long term relationships with your partners and clients.

Prophetline specializes in POS and Retail Software which helps businesses to create solutions in software support, customer marketing and all operation processes. With a strong customer support team, Prophetline cares about your business success and encourages open communication with its clients and staff team. Check out Prophetline range of services to enhance your retail businesses and create successful business systems.

Would you lik a digital PA and companion?

Do you have problems with keeping track of appointments, your wife's birthdays, anniversary or important deadlines for your work? If the answer is yes, then here's the good news. Introducing the new revolutionary Ultra Hal Assistant, who is your digital personal assistant and companion. Ultra Hal is an artifcial intelligence program who speaks English and has the ability to help you, get you organized, remind you and chat with you.

You can customized Ultra Hal in your chosen animated character and has the flexibility of speaking to Hal or typing a message in your computer. With Hal, your life will never be bored and you don't have to work alone. Hal can help you to find and run programs for you, remember email addresses and phone numbers. Ultra Hal runs on Windows and for a free 30 day trial, begin your download now!

Importance of quality mailing lists

In the last few years, we have been working hard on building our company's database. Along the way, we are also approached by many marketing companies who are promoting their telemarketing lists to expand the promotion and and publicity for our seminars.

If you need more exposure for your products or services, Martin WorldWide is known for its credentials and services among many small businesses and Fortune 1000 companies. Besides specializing in customized lists, telemarketing lists or fax lists, their database is well researched and categorized thus are effective in delivering the best results for its clients.

Have you played paintball?

The weather these days have been unpredictable and weird - it is hot and humid one moment and rainy the next. It makes outing challenging especially when we have a little boy to bring along though we are lovers of the great outdoors.

Few years ago, his brother in law went on a team building trip with his company and told us all about his first paintball game experience. He became such an ardent fan and was thinking of buying his own paintball equipment. Somehow, he got us interested and we started gathering some friends for this fun too. I didn't know that paintballs have different characteristics. For someone who like me, the Draxxus Blaze 500 Count Paintballs would be good as they were made for recreational players: non-staining, easy to clean up, breaks on impact, but seldom in your gun. Those guys wouldn't settle for anything less than a pack of Diablo Crucifire; was told that it could break almost 'anything' and the stains left behind would remind you of your wildest paintball game!

DH was attracted to the Bob Long Defiant Paintball Gun Silver, the design was so cool while my brother in law liked an impact-resistant BT 4 Banshee Paintball Gun With Wood Grain.

I don't know about you but I think I'm just not cut out for this game. It was a rough and extreme experience. I had bruises all over my legs and I only wished I had better jerseys or masks on that day. But my DH, he had so much good fun with the team and I had never seen him played like this. If you ask me, this strategy game is really a guys game :)

Google PR update underway...

This Google PR update is sending everyone rolling with curiosity and anxieties. Some are overjoyed with the increase in PR while others are not too happy with the 'no change' status. I was told that the update is underway so we just to be patient.

After all the efforts in linking and regular posting, bloggers are expecting rewards and positive outcomes... well, I have yet to see much progress on my blogs. So you can say that I'm one of the anxious one. Bloggers who are active in paid posts know how important those high PR means.

Ok.. til the next update, we shall see... Anyone has good news to share?

Weird toilet for sale

Weird Toilet for Sale! Anyone? There are all sorts of weird looking product designs around us these days. This is a funny and interesting one - it's a one of a kind toilet seat and there is only ONE such toilet seat in this world. Someone posts this for sale in an online classified ad and if you are keen to own it, contact the seller!