Anyone been to North Cyprus?

Has anyone been to North Cyprus? I am enchanted by the beauty of the unspoilt beaches, clear blue waters and the charming landscape it has to offer. It is blessed with more than 300 days of warm sunshine in a year which makes it a relaxing playground for those who enjoy outdoor fun and adventures. In fact, many Europeans have chosen to invest in North Cyprus Property for the fantastic value and convert that to a vacation home for their families and friends. I wouldn't mind visiting North Cyrus after viewing those lovely homes and beautiful beaches.

Here's My Guy..

Ok... this is a little addictive but see, it's really fun!! Have you tried it out? Check out 'My Guy'...

What sort of traveller are you?

Some friends call me 'travelling mom' and I do have to live up to that name! I took Clayton on his first overseas trip when he was 3 months old - took him in my Baby Bjorn and we hopped up the coach and that was exciting.

Besides Singapore, Clayton has been to New Zealand and Australia, he is trained to be a good traveller cos his mommie is a travel freak :) I am very used to planning my own travel vacations but I know some may prefer to get help through a network or travel company.

Vacation providers such as United Vacation Network assists individuals, families or even corporates by catering to their vacation needs. This may include travel arrangements related to air travel, accommodation booking, tours, itinerary planning, car rentals and more. Usually, vacation providers get good rates from these hotel or tour operators and these savings can be significant in reducing your travel costs.

The choice of planning a vacation depends on your style, personality, preference and needs. And you need to do your own research whether you decide to go Free and Easy or seek advice from a vacation provider.

Fantasy Sports? Do you know what it is?

Fantasy Football is one of the most popular fantasy sports game in the States, favourited over fantasy baseball. My cousin is passionate about fantasy football and will share with us about his draft or the choice of his league whenever we get to meet. While he explains to us how the real-life team players score points based on their performance in the field, we will be trying hard to understand how the game really works. His peers are only keen on high stakes fantasy football as the payout prizes are attractive and set in a upper class venue.

I'm still trying hard to understand how the score points are being calculated, or maybe I should first learn how to appreciate this addictive sports.

My First Digital Scrapbook

This is my first attempt with digital scrapbooking. Heard so much about it but never know how til I came across heartvault.com. It's still on alpha and may not work satisfactorily but for me, it's still fun to try it out. So, what do you think of my first attempt... wanted to add more photos but there is some scripting problems with the site.

Anyone has a good scrapbooking site to recommend?

Garage Adventures - the perfect place for kiddies!

I would like to share about this beautiful and professional childminding place in Singapore called, 'Garage Adventures'.

On my last trip to Singapore, I left Clayton at Garage Adventures for 3 hours so that he can have a fun time of enjoyment with all the educational toys while I had some 'me' time. Adeline at GA took pride in what she does and you can tell by a brief conversation with her that she adores children. Her passion for children explains why GA is so popular with the expatriate community and parents would leave their children with Adeline when they need to run errands or get a break for themselves.



GA is well-equipped with safe and educational toys, many of which are imported and not available locally. Adeline keeps the place clean, conducive and appealing for the children. She was telling me that she would spend couple of hours cleaning the place and the toys after the last child went home.



Clayton was so 'at home' at GA that he wasn't worried about me going off without him! He enjoyed exploring and playing with all the train sets, pretend play sets, slides, tricycle, scooter or just simply fixing puzzles.



So if you are heading down to Singapore for a vacation and like to leave your children in safe and trusted care, give a call to Garage Adventures, located at Far East Shopping Centre, Orchard road. Adeline charges S$10 per hour after 1.30pm and $15 per hour for the morning nursery sessions, Mon - Sat.

How to choose your UK accommodation?

One of the places in my 'must see' list is the UK... London, Italy, Spain, Prague are the tops in the list! Yet, I have heard much about how expensive accommodations can be in the UK where even 3 star hotels can cost around $100. So it is worth spending time researching and comparing hotels and prices once you have decided where you are travelling.

With so many accommodation choices and options, how do you go about with choosing the right place to stay? Here are my suggestions on choosing a hotel in the UK:

1) It is useful to find out WHERE exactly the hotel is located.
Is it near the heart of town? How far is it from the airport? Is it near any places of attraction?

2) What sort of rooms are available?
Deluxe? Superior? Bedding configuration? Smoking/Non-smoking floors?

3) What are the rates for different room types?
Any discounts or promotions available during your travel period? Does the rate include breakfast or taxes?

4) Are credit cards accepted?
The types of credit cards the hotels accept. Some smaller establishments such as Bed and Breakfast or Guest Inns accept only cash.

5) Can you book online?
If yes, will you be issued a confirmation number? What are the cancellation policies? Any additional charges when booking online?

6) What are the facilities available in the hotel?
Internet connectivity? Business services? Restaurants? Kitchenette? Leisure or recreational available?

7) Is it child-friendly?
This is important as not all hotels esp adult hotels accept children. Some hotels only accept children above a certain age.

With the above suggestions, you can also find out detailed information of hotels and plot out your itineraries with information available online. View the different kinds of accommodations from country retreats to classic hotels, to luxury ones or those in the heart of the city.

Whatever it is, do your research and plan before you travel. This will ensure a smooth vacation for you and your family.

Last night 1K saga...

It was 1K Tuesday yesterday. I saw the $100 twice but as expected, no chance at all. While waiting for more 'big' opps, I chatted with Samm and Amy and told each other that if anyone were to grab a $100 opp, we will get a free makan.

I guessed all of us waited and waited til.... cannot tahan lor. Samm slept at 4am, Amy - I haven't asked her and me, 2plus. This morning, I was like a zombie and before I could take another wink, my little Clayton jumped on me with his ABC book and asked me to read together. Huh, read? When I'm half asleep and struggling to open my eyes?

This morning, the $500 appeared late and I believed that every postie is waiting cos the dashboard showed that no one had taken a big, big opp. So I waited... then I had to attend to Clayton when he came home from school and I knew the opp would be released during that time. And true enough, it did... and again, no chance lah...

Motherhood.. your life revolves around your kid/s. Agree?

Sharlene's travel advice

I got an email from a friend, Sharlene who is currently living in London with her hubby. They took a holiday during the easter weekend to Brussels and Brugge and had a great time.



A drama took place then during the trip. Her purse was pick pocked but thank God that she realised it in time and her purse was safe. She listed downsome pointers you might find useful when you travel:

- always put your wallet in your front pants pocket

- put only minimal cash and cards in your wallet

- use a money belt for the rest of your cash

- do not be friendly, nor enter into conversation with anyone. i.e. just give an assertive 'No' and walk away briskly no matter who the person is. whether needy, busker, friendly local, etc. approach everyone as suspicious. sad as it is, this is what the world has become. can't trust anyone. risky to be the good samaritan :P

- make sure that person keeps a distance from you if you want to engage them

- travel in big groups (don't travel alone)

- be aware of your surroundings and people following you

- be sensible about the street you use

- always padlock your backpack as you walk the city

- never loose sight of your bag, better still, keep your hand on it all times

- scan copies of your passport, drivers licence and credit card numbers and store it in your online email account (yahoo,gmail). of course be sensible in what and how you store your credit card numbers online (use some creativity to encrypt it so that it is not obvious in case your email is compromised. plus there is no need to store the expiry and verification code). in the case of losing your items, you can access it quickly over the internet and cancel your credit cards immediately. visa international can stop your card immediately if you give them your card number. if not, they will have to contact your bank to find your card details (which takes longer)

Resources for businesspeople

Like to find out company profiles of businesses in a quick search and click, check out Manta.com, an informative site that contains information of companies. You can also purchase search reports of a particular company, which is useful when you need to do a research for a business deal or partnership.

Conducting a proper and detailed is crucial to the success of a business partnership, launching a marketing campaign for your clients and evaluate your potential business competitors' profiles in the corporate market place.

More than 46 million companies are listed with Manta and you can search companies by categories. Specialized reports are available for purchase if you need to access the company's credibility and financial information.

TOP 10 places to pamper yourself

Looking for travel ideas? Here are the TOP 10 to places spoil yourself rotten:

1.	Maui, Hawaii
2.	Paradise Island, Bahamas
3.	Positano, Italy
4.	Naples, Fla.
5.	Los Cabos, Mexico
6.	Sedona, Arizona
7.	Baden-Baden, Germany
8.	Carmel, Calif.
9.	Bali, Indonesia
10.	Turks and Caicos

Informative insurance site

I was first introduced to a life insurance policy when I stepped into the working world. At that time, I was skeptical as I wasn't too ready to pay a monthly premium 'for life' (almost). But eventually, I was convinced by the important of securing a policy for critical illnesses and death protection for my loved ones. Besides, life is unpredictable and you just never know.

But these days, insurance policies have taken on a new light. There are various kinds of plans available from general life, to universal life insurance, to For example, with universal life insurance, you not only have the flexibility to adjust your premium according to your needs and budget. Another advantage to this policy is that your account value earns interest at the company's current interest rate -guaranteed to be at least 4% a year.

If you like to learn more about different types of insurance, this is one website that provides you some useful information. You learn about the difference in the types of insurance in the marketplace and how each can fit into your needs. Besides information on life insurance, there is information on pet insurance, health insurance for personal and businesses.

Wordless Wednesday - My niece

My only niece is developing into a cutie at the age of 14 months. This is her version of a 'funny face'...

What is your take on loans?

The only time I took up a personal loan was when I needed money for my further studies 10 years ago. I was thankful that the loan came via friend and I didn't have to approach banks or any loan providers.

I have always been skeptical about payday loans, simply because it can lead to a debt trap for those who have no discipline with money. Some tend to use the quick cash to tie themselves through for a period and when pay day comes, the money is not used to pay the loan. Thus, it leads to bigger debts and more financial trouble.

I do agree that a personal loan can be useful and helpful if used wisely and for a proper cause, not for gratifying personal desires to buy expensive things and later on, realized that you are faced with the issue of overspending.

Thus, be wise with your finances. If you need money for emergency, consult a financial advisor and discuss your options before making a hasty decision.

DO FOLLOW spreading in PPP forum...

The 'Do Follow' Movement continues and is spreading fast at the PPP forum.

If you are a PPP postie and would like to be part of the movement of removing the 'no follow' code from your comments box, so that visitors to your site can benefit from a linky love. Hop over to Tricia's, pick up the script and you are all set to make the official announcement of being a 'DO FOLLOW' blogger.

And if you like a 'I FOLLOW' badge to be placed on your site, head down to Randa's.

A new way to treat brain tumor

My close uncle had undergone a couple of brain tumor surgeries 15 years ago and I am truly glad that he survived and conquered this dreaded condition. Today, he is doing fine and a father of two kids. However, the surgeries had caused some memory difficulties and vision problems since.

I have never heard about Gamma Knive radiosurgery which is a revolutionary method of treating patients with brain tumor. In Gamma Knive surgery, no 'knives' are used, instead the targeted beams of radiation is directed at the brain tumor, lesions or growth. Thus, there is no incisions on the head which means recovery process will be faster and the treatment will be accurate and precise.

With Gamma Knive surgery, no X-rays are needed on the brain and the amount of radiation is controlled and exposed only on the treatment area and not the entire body.

The Detox Series

I'm running a series of detox information in my Organics and Your Health blog. So if you have no idea what a detox is or would like get some tips on how to ensure a successful detox plan, head over to my Health blog. I'm now at Part 3 and there are few more to go.

Here's to your success in living a cleansed, cleared and rejuvenated life!

Fountains of Bellagio

I first visited Las Vegas more than 10 years ago...

This morning, I was watching some snippets of this busy and lively city on the Travel and Living channel and I was so impressed with the fast developments in Las Vegas real estate today. Bigger, taller and more luxurious hotels have been built in the last few years with great sights of display to attract more visitors from all over the world.

I would love to visit Las Vegas just for the fountains of Bellagio, the beautiful architecture and applauding state-of-the-art entertainment displays in this city that never sleeps. One thing I know for sure - a vacation to Vegas will never be boring, listless and restless... the activities, entertainment, dining, shopping and attractions are simply endless.

Don't take joint or knee pain lightly

These days, it seems common to hear complaints about pain in the joints and hip area. I wonder if the modern lifestyle that we lived had led to these common ailments. Few months ago, mum complained about her hurting joints and after consulting a family doctor, I bought her some glucosamine chrontin supplements.

Actually, one should not take joint pain lightly as early diagnosis may mean getting the proper and minus the need for any surgical procedures. The best thing to do is to consult a certified orthopaedic instead of a GP who may not be trained to analyze certain pain condition. Pain killers usually bring temporary relief and supplements may not be the correct way to deal with joint pain or knee condition.

My first fliptrack video

I stumbled upon Fliptrack, a cool software that allows you to create your own music video. All you need is to upload your photos and choose the list of licensed music available at Fliptrack.

Try it out!