Funky Cookies

Free Standing Tub

2011-11-24T09:33:00.002+08:00

Don't you think there's just something about a clawfoot tub that adds romanticism and glamour to a bathroom? I really love freestanding clawfoot tubs and was very excited to see one in the Mauritius resort we stayed in. While it was really fun soaking in the tub, I certainly did not envy the hotel maids who had to clean up the bathroom after that! A clawfoot bath looks good but water usually ends up spilling over the sides which will make it a nightmare to have in our own house! So for now, I'll just enjoy it in the hotels :)

Building A Dream Kitchen

2011-11-03T09:47:00.002+08:00

I've been listening to my colleagues talking about house renovation for almost a month already. Two of them have recently bought new houses and are well in the thick of their renovation, including some really tough renovation woes for one. I was just telling them I had never experienced a full blown renovation like what they are doing as we have never started building nor renovating a whole house from scratch. If I could, one of the areas I would love to do up the most is the kitchen. I'd really love an island complete with pretty kitchen spice racks on the walls. A hanging wall spice rack will look really nice as well and once they are filled up with spices, will add a whimsical yet colourful touch to the kitchen. Best of all, these spice racks are useful too in the cooking! Someday, when we have found our house to settle in long term, I'll have my dream spice rack too!

Reading E-Books

2011-10-18T09:53:00.002+08:00

My iPad seems to be a bit of a white elephant right now. I use it mainly only to watch downloaded movies although I have been told that downloading of electronic book are really easy as well. I have not tried downloading any yet as nothing beats the feel and smell of a physical book for me. I still enjoy turning the pages and taking my time to enjoy the book. Somehow the digital form of an electronic book just doesn't have that same feel. Do you feel the same?

Gift Business Ideas

2011-10-18T09:48:00.002+08:00

I was hunting around for a farewell gift for my boss who is leaving soon and was surprised to see the number of gift types available for every occasion. Today, you can find gifts for just about anything, from just because gifts to someone whom you are thinking of to innovative birthday and farewell gifts. Gifts today are just getting more and more creative and special and is a multi-million business now. Perhaps a business idea to think about!

Advantages of a Small House

2011-10-18T09:40:00.002+08:00

One advantage of staying in a small place like I currently do is the ease of cleaning and reaching for stuff. My ceiling is quite low so most of my things are all easily accessible by standing on a stool. I don't even need a two step stool to reach my items in the higher cupboards. Of course it comes with some downside as my ceiling is too low for a ceiling fan so I need to make do with stand fans which naturally don't provide as much wind or cooling effect as I like!

Successful Business

2011-10-18T09:04:00.002+08:00

A friend has recently quit the rat race to set up a web hosting company. He now runs a web host for big sites and has amassed quite a fortune as his clients like the stability and reliability his webhosting services offer. That's the amazing thing with the world today...you can make a successful business out of just anything and in any form, whether physical or online.

Proper Web Host

2011-10-18T09:01:00.002+08:00

I've been reading of many people having trouble with their webhosting companies. In some cases, some of their blogs disappear! If you are running a website or a blog as part of your income, it is always important to go with a reliable and proper web hosting company to ensure your site is always available to everyone and you do not lost income from downtime. There are many companies around but do ensure you do your homework, research and select the best possible one for your budget.

Keeping The Place Clean

2011-08-08T10:16:00.002+08:00

I don't really like mess around my work area so I was pretty pleased when my new laptop came with a set of cable covers to hide all the unsightly wires away from view. My IT set it up last week and finally, I have a clean desk now to work off! Funny how particular I can be about loose wires lying around when my house is so messy with letters and envelopes.

Christmas Shopping Made Easy

2011-08-01T08:26:00.002+08:00

I read in the papers yesterday that Britain had started a Christmas in July sale to capture the summer shoppers and people were actually buying their decorations and gifts early! If you are one of those who tend to leave your Christmas shopping too late, fret not, because you can now find gifts for everyone from gifting solutions for all occasions! Imagine finding the perfect gift for your old grandaunt or young niece! They simply have everything covered so Christmas shopping can no longer be a headache!

Technological Leaps

2011-08-01T08:24:00.003+08:00

One really can't keep up with technology. I just had the chance to see someone's Galaxy Tab yesterday and was really impressed with the sharpness and photo quality for something so small. I also played with a friend's Kindle and have to say I was very impressed by how easy it made reading. Next thing will probably be funky gadgets such as Epson TM-T88V or new roll-up TVs. The world is moving at such a fast pace you'll get left behind if you don't keep up!

Learning Mandarin

2011-07-13T09:37:00.001+08:00

I'm currently taking Mandarin classes and am honestly finding it quite a challenge as it is a very difficult language to learn. I've asked around and it seems like there is no easier way to learn Mandarin short of memorizing! Perhaps I should start looking at franklin speaking language master tools or guides to help me improve my Mandarin. Hopefully, after a few more months of pain, I will be able to hold a decent conversation and recognise more characters!

Insurance Coverage

2011-07-13T09:33:00.000+08:00

A friend has started dabbling in insurance and has been calling me up to go over some buy sell agreements and suggested insurance plans with her. While I would like to support her new career, I do have quite a number of insurance policies already and with my financial status a little uncertain in the long run, I would prefer not to commit to a long-term expenditure such as large annual premiums. However, if you do not have insurance yet, you definitely should consider purchasing a minimal plan to prepare for all unforeseen circumstances.

Spoilt LAN Line

2011-06-22T13:56:00.002+08:00

Did you know that your network cable can actually spoil quite easily if you always take it in and out? I didn't and used to think that the culprit was my home internet modem whenever I had connection problems. It turned out that my network cable was getting spoilt because I constantly changed it from the desktop to my laptop. So, if you use a network cable or a LAN line, try to use it only for one device and not swap it around too often.

Giving Gifts During Business Dealings

2011-06-22T13:49:00.002+08:00

In my old job, I had the chance to do some work with a Japanese businessman. I had heard so much about their hospitality and I certainly was impressed at our first meeting. The businessman came with a beautifully wrapped box of Japanese biscuits that I'm sure must have cost a bomb in Japan! He even took the trouble to look for suitable Men's Business & Office Gifts for my male colleague to ensure it will be something useful for him. Very impressive and it certainly goes a long way in ensuring a good business relationship. The Westerners have a lot to learn.

Retiring At An Early Age

2011-06-22T13:39:00.002+08:00

A friend has a brother in law who lives in a nice luxury condo in KL, drives a comfortable Volvo, invests in the top range audio equipment for his home and doesn't need to work a single day for all these! How is that possible, you wonder? Well, I don't know if you would consider it lucky or unlucky but he got into some industrial accident while working in the oil and gas sector and was given a big social security disability payout as a result. Hence, his retirement is pretty much covered for life! That's the benefit of buying social security to protect you at your workplace.

Yoga class

2011-06-14T10:58:00.000+08:00

I kinda miss my yoga sessions. I enjoyed them very much as my teacher had a small group and was really passionate about yoga. So she would spend time correcting our poses and ensuring we did everything correctly. Now, my yoga mats are just languishing in a corner of the room and my body has terrible muscle tone. Maybe I should just join a class here though I dislike the thought of big classes and lower attention. Either that or a pilates class.

Keep Investments Well

2011-06-02T10:26:00.002+08:00

The world economy is in a bit of turmoil right now. I recently read that world food prices are expected to shoot through the roof in the next few years as the major agricultural countries of the world battle natural disasters and drought. Whatever it is, I hope we will all never fall to a level so low where we need to resort to Selling Gold Jewelry to survive. At the rate the gold prices are hitting the sky, it is always best to continue to keep it for investment purposes.

Fancy Dress Parties

2011-05-19T09:34:00.001+08:00

I was wandering about one of the neighbourhood malls recently and was surprised to see costume shops in Singapore starting to spring up. It seems that costume parties here have become hugely popular in recent times for both children and adult parties. Funnily enough, one of the most popular costume for adult parties is the nursing uniforms costumes! I've never been for a costume party before, have you? I'm sure it must be loads of fun especially if the identities of the people are not revealed beforehand!

Home Printer

2011-05-06T08:55:00.000+08:00

Singapore has been having lots of great electronic fairs recently. One that was held over the May Day weekend say really good prices on laser printers and computers. If DH hadn't gotten the printer we now have, I would have seriously considered getting a laser printer at home, simply for the quality of the printing and the clarity of the printouts. Do you have a laser printer? Don't you find it better than a bubble jet one?

Flowers For Mother's Day

2011-04-29T09:17:00.003+08:00

Mother's Day is just around the corner and if you're still looking for a gift for Mom, why not consider a lovely bunch of flowers? It makes an especially good gift if you are not based in the same town or country as she is. There are many good online florists with free delivery but ProFlowers offers one of the best services and even have a ProFlowers discount code on their site if you order soon! So start clicking and send Mom your love.

Growing Sideways

2011-04-29T09:13:00.001+08:00

I've been feeling quite pudgy recently and I'm not very sure why as I haven't been eating a tremendous more. Perhaps my metabolism is really slowing down or maybe it is due to the outside meals I've been having in the past few weeks as I didn't cook. I don't think it's time for lipozene yet but I certainly need to make sure I control my weight!

Keeping Good Relationships

2011-04-20T09:43:00.002+08:00

DH went to Bangkok not long after he joined his new job and much to his surprise, his booth in the Exhibition was right next to the Tradeshow booth of his old company! Luckily he left in good terms and actually had a good time catching up with his old colleagues over dinner and breaktime. It's always important to leave every company with good blood and ties maintained. The world is just too small and you never know when you might bump into them again.

Credit Card Promotions

2011-03-28T09:19:00.000+08:00

Singapore's credit card scene is incredibly competitive. Almost every card offers freebies in the form of gift vouchers, meal discount vouchers and free gifts. However, I've found that most of the vouchers are often less useful as they require you to spend some amount of money first or it may simply not fit into your lifestyle. As an example, I received some health vouchers for hgh supplements and upon reading the hgh reviews online, I didn't use them as it didn't fit into my lifestyle. Perhaps, instead of offering useless vouchers, credit card companies should just offer cash back deals.

Health Irony

2011-03-28T09:16:00.002+08:00

People nowadays are very concerned with health, judging by the number of health food stores that have sprung up all over the place. They start their days with protein shakes, have a light but protein rich lunch and have healthy snacks like apples throughout the day. Some even read up secratatropin hgh reviews and invest in these expensive supplements to provide them with the health they want. Ironically though, the number of health problems seem to increase amongst the young with incidences of heart attacks and diabetes at an all time high. I wonder what has gone wrong.

Cell Booster

2011-03-28T09:12:00.001+08:00

I was in the pharmacy the other day and was really intrigued by a new product called the cellular booster that the sales person was promoting. Basically, it provides a much needed boost to our body's cells which are mainly cellular structures. Perhaps it might help my dropping hair! Have you tried such a product before and did it work for you?

Pishing Sites

2011-03-28T09:08:00.001+08:00

Technology is good and it has definitely taken the world over by storm with everyone having smart phones and smart PCs. Because everything is so easily accessible, people actually forget the need for security nowadays is even more important as information is so readily gleaned by pishing sites and other electronic pickpocketing sites. All they need to do is gain access to your account and from there, you can actually end up losing tangible amounts of money. Hence, when doing electronic transactions, especially banking, always do it with care and ensure your passwords and logins are never freely revealed.

Major Changes Ahead

2011-03-09T09:27:00.002+08:00

There have been lots of changes in my life recently, hence the temporary disappearance from blogsphere. There will be bigger changes to come as hubs has accepted a new job that will require a relocation to somewhere I never thought we will end up in!

There are a lot of concerns I have as to my own career path and what I should do there if I don't have the necessary language skills. I've even considered a change in career paths, nothing as drastic as dabbling in
micrometers but I was seriously considering teaching English to school children. Unfortunately, most places do want some form of paper qualification to certify you are fit to teach. I really need to seriously start looking at what I should do in that foreign land.

Wooden Feel

2011-03-09T09:25:00.001+08:00

I have always personally loved having laminate floor surfaces or wooden floors. I believe it adds a certain warmth and charm to the house and makes it easy to clean as well. An architect once told me nothing beats the feel of timber flooring under your feet but considering the cost and maintenance timber flooring comes with, laminate floors are possibly a better and cheaper suggestion! What do you think?

Online Gambling

2011-03-08T09:18:00.002+08:00

I recently read an article in the newspapers that the current Resorts World Casino and Marina Bay Sands Casino were all the casinos Singapore was planning to invest in. They must have realised that their people were still frequenting the casinos despite the steep levies imposed on its citizens. However, do you think this will really reduce the number of gamblers or will people just turn towards online casino games instead which are so easily available online and free of levies!

Christmas Shopping for DH

2010-12-09T09:24:00.002+08:00

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? We haven't even started and we're already less than 20 days to Christmas! I'm honestly quite stumped for ideas when it comes to Christmas shopping for DH. He's not a fashion geek so no branded clothes for him. He's not a tech geek either otherwise I can consider getting a custom laptop! What do you get someone who has simple needs and wants?! Any suggestions?

Blue Ray Clarity

2010-12-09T09:21:00.002+08:00

I never used to think much of blu ray movies as I'm not much of a movie buff. However, a recent visit to an electronics fair totally changed my opinion! There were various booths showcasing the power and clarity of blue ray movies and the colours and sharpness shown were really impressive! Every detail of the actors faces could be seen with startling clarity and the effects were so good you could feel as if you were in the movie itself! Now I understand why people are willing to pay the premium for blue ray. However, I don't think I watch enough movies yet to justify the premium price for the DVDs and player!

Vouchers for Gifts

2010-12-09T09:13:00.002+08:00

We've been scratching our heads trying to come up with gift ideas for DH's nieces this Christmas. Children today are so lucky! They have simply everything, even things they do not ask for, which makes gift buying so difficult! I suggested buying some gift vouchers such as Borders gift vouchers or aj madison coupons instead of physical presents so the nieces could go buy their own gifts. However, DH is of the opinion that physical presents are a lot more fun compared to vouchers! What do you think?

Plant Visiting

2010-12-01T22:01:00.001+08:00

I recently attended a 3 day training course which included a visit to one of our plants on a nearby island. I really enjoyed the half day tour of the plant which included a bus ride around the various pipes, machinery, engine driven pumps and flare stacks. It was very interesting to see how few workers there were around as everything is so hi tech now that it is all controlled from the control room. That was, in fact, the safest place on the site! It was a really good eye opener. Hopefully I will get an opportunity to visit the other plant in the near future.

Dry Skin Relief

2010-12-01T21:55:00.002+08:00

DH suffers from eczema and dry skin. While it is not a good thing for him, it's quite useful for me as he is never short of moisturizers and creams. It has been especially recently as I came back from Europe with dry, scabby and peeling skin caused by the dry air. I've read once that wrinkles can happen anywhere, not just the face. So I've been rather diligent in smoothing on the cream every night after my bath. I hope that works in the long term otherwise I'll need to start sourcing for anti wrinkle lotion!

Acne Scarring

2010-12-01T21:50:00.002+08:00

One of the side effects of my pimple breakout in my teens are deep pimple scars and open pores left. Sadly, it means I will never have beautiful and smooth skin like so many other women out there. I have been using vitamin E oils and creams after I read an article on how to get rid of pimple scars. While it does seem to work, the process is a slow one and it can get a little oily when using concentrated vitamin E oil. It seems that only time can cure scarring. Hopefully it does and my scars become less obvious.

Getting Clear Skin

2010-12-01T21:45:00.002+08:00

I was looking for some reviews of a product called acsonix which was said to be highly effective in curing acne, especially adult acne in a short while.The reviews I found online were all very good with many satisfied users extolling its virtues. Unfortunately, it is still not available in stores here and I will need to wait till it comes in or buy online. Perhaps I will give it some time. I'm cleaned out with shopping!

Combat Hair Loss

2010-10-20T17:34:00.002+08:00

They say that if your hair starts to grey early, you shouldn't suffer from falling hair and baldness. However, DH has been getting a little worried of late as he has started sprouting some white hair and also noticed his hair getting thinner! He has even started checking out some best hair loss products in the market to see if it will help! I told him that it is likely due to an unsuitable shampoo or an oily scalp and suggested that he try another shampoo instead. Hopefully it works otherwise he'll have to suffer a double whammy with his hair! :P

Weight Issues

2010-10-20T08:55:00.002+08:00

I used to know someone who was really into exercise and body fat. Initially, I found him quite entertaining but after a while, I got really irritated by his complaints over his figure. He used to moan over how his body fat had increased and how his supplements such as tonalin cla no longer worked in helping him reduce body fat and preserve his lean muscle. Despite his exercise, he still continued to indulge in oily and fatty foods. No wonder he wasn't losing weight! Hopefully he has now realised that losing weight is a two pronged approach, not just one!

Fighting Acne

2010-10-20T08:52:00.001+08:00

I haven't been back to KL for a while already and hence, haven't been seeing my usual dermatologist for my acne treatment. I stopped the antibiotics he prescribed and my acne did get worse right after that. However, thankfully, it's now been brought under control. My skin is rather sensitive and its hard to know what to use exactly for it. Thank goodness my current skin care regiment seems to be working well. Let's hope it continues to improve my skin!

Breast Feeding All The Way

2010-10-20T08:49:00.000+08:00

A friend who managed to get her precious baby after several years of trying is determined to bring up her baby the best she can. She diligently breastfeeds her baby although she's at work and several months later, is still continuing to give her baby 100% of her breast milk. According to her, it works on a supply and demand basis so as long as the baby continues to suckle or one continues to pump milk, there will always be milk production. She also took all kinds of natural herbs and teas to increase breast milk production naturally so her baby can continue to benefit. Its great to see this shift back to breast feeding as I personally think cow's milk may not be the best for our children.

Online Tutoring

2010-10-20T08:40:00.002+08:00

Tutoring has become something all too common in Malaysia and Singapore where students are always pushed to excel. Parents spend huge amounts of money sending their children for various tuition classes. However, with technology, there are always great alternatives available. And now, Online tutoring has started to take off. All you need is a good connection and a laptop and your child could have access to some of the best Free math tutoring online or Math answers for their school work. Some of the tutors behind these online services are actually University students from poorer countries such as India who are experts in subjects such as Algebra 1 and Algebra 2. They interact with your child over the computer and patiently provide them with the study help they require, be it Chemistry help or Statistics help. Its great how technology is making everything accessible and affordable, even for students in poorer countries!

Superwoman

2010-10-12T08:55:00.002+08:00

I met up with a few friends last weekend on separate occasions. I came away deeply inspired by one of them who set up a blogshop which was different from all other blogsops out there. Her products were high quality merchandise from the US and before she launched her site, spent many days coding and creating a funky website with a managed hosting site. She did all these with a young daughter in tow and a husband who is currently based out of the country. I truly admire her zeal and passion. I should do some soul searching to find out what mine is too.

Scam Calls

2010-10-01T17:10:00.002+08:00

I really hate spam calls and I've been getting quite a few of them recently. Someone called the other day to talk about weight loss products. Just the other day, someone else called about this other product and told me to check out their website at www.tonalin-cla.net for more details. I got rather irritated as the person was very persistent and refused to hang up although I said I was very busy. I wonder where these people are buying our numbers from and which unscrupulous people are selling those numbers!

Horse Riding

2010-10-01T17:05:00.002+08:00

DH's eldest niece has taken a keen interest in horse-riding. Out of the many activities she attends, she seems to enjoy that the most and has never once complained about how tedious or boring it is. However, horse-riding is one activity that does not come cheap and her parents have already spent quite a bit on equestrian clothing for her. Then there are the additional things such as the equestrian boots and accessories that constantly change to fit a growing girl. Having children certainly isn't cheap these days!

Dinner & Dance

2010-10-01T17:02:00.002+08:00

DH got busy yesterday as he got pulled into a Dinner and Dance meeting. Looks like he has no way to get out of it as all new staff in his company have to help in the organisation of at least one dinner and dance function! He told me they spent most of the time deliberating over where the event should be, the themes and what gifts they should consider - custom mugs, mini plaques or little keychains. From what he mentioned, their budget isn't very high at all so I believe they might have some trouble looking for a nice but affordable venue.

Condo Viewing

2010-10-01T16:39:00.002+08:00

Some time last month, DH and I went to view a place not too far from town. We were very impressed with the finishings they had although the place was a tiny little condo. What attracted me most was how well-fitted the whole unit was from complete kitchen cabinets, electrical goods, downlights, airconditioners and Casablanca fans to complete the luxurious feel. Malaysian luxury condomium developers still have a lot to learn especially in their finishings and fixtures.

Lack of Protection

2010-09-24T16:45:00.003+08:00

Throughout the whole week of renovation, I've noticed that the workers here don't seem to be very well protected despite handling chemicals and cement. All they have is a thin covering of cloth or their own T-shirt around their mouth and nose even when doing hacking. Imagine the amount of dust they are breathing in as they move from block to block to do the hacking! Over time, I'm sure these fine dust particles will have some adverse impact on their health. Probably not to the extend where they'll require a Mesothelioma lawyer but still may not be good for them. The companies should at least be a little more humane in treating their workers.

Treating Acne

2010-09-20T10:09:00.002+08:00

Some people don't have much tact and seem to think they are allowed to make all kinds of comments just because they are older or related. I used to have quite bad acne when I was a teenager and some well meaning but untactful older women would make comments about my skin and prescribe all kinds of acne treatments that work, according to them. Needless to say, those comments don't do much for a teenager's self-esteem. Teenagers today are much luckier as there is a whole slew of treatments available for them these days, from expensive facials to dermatologists.

Curing Acne

2010-09-20T10:01:00.003+08:00

I used to see a rather famous dermatologist in KL for my acne problem. He has a renowned reputation for solving most people's acne problems. However, some of the acne pills he prescribes can have a detrimental effect on pregnant women so he will always do a check to see if you're expecting or whether you are on any birth control medication. If you aren't, he will prescribe a milder form of medication instead. I have since stopped taking his pills although my acne isn't totally cured as I have some reservations about taking medication on a long term basis. Hopefully my acne will eventually go away once the reno and dust is gone.

Shampoo for Hair Loss

2010-09-20T09:50:00.002+08:00

I used to have quite long hair past my shoulders and used to freak out whenever I saw the amount of hair loss I had. A friend recommended me Dove shampoo for hair loss which was said to reduce the amount of hair droppage. However, it did not do that much for my hair when I was using it and I still found lots of hair in the bathroom after my shower. I tried cutting my hair shorter as I suspected the length could be the problem but it has still been dropping quite a bit. Does anyone have a fool proof hair loss shampoo they can recommend? I don't really want to be balding before my time!

Blackhead Pore Packs

2010-09-20T09:44:00.001+08:00

The renovation in our house has caused lots of dust. Sleeping in a tiny room cramped with our dusty furniture doesn't quite help either and I've seen some new spots appearing on my face and blackheads on my nose! My facial is long overdue as I haven't had time to do one in a while! Perhaps it's time I ran out to buy a bottle of facial scrub to get rid of my nose blackheads or one of those funky pore pack things which claim to lift blackheads from your pores. Anyone ever tried one before? Does it work?

Insurance Policies

2010-09-01T09:08:00.001+08:00

Now that I'm out of the country, I've been wondering if I should continue my critical illness cover that I purchased several years ago. I'm not sure if the benefits are still entitled to me or my family should it be claimed outside Malaysia. Hopefully it works like term life insurance policies where the benefits are still payable otherwise it would have been a waste of money to pay such high policies and get nothing in return.

Being Independent Again

2010-09-01T09:04:00.002+08:00

DH hasn't travelled in a while, much to my surprise. I have to admit that I've gotten quite used to him being around the house when I return and preparing dinner on weekdays when I'm late. However, all good things must come to an end and he's currently preparing for yet another trip in the next month. Time for me to be independent yet again!

Moistening The Air

2010-09-01T09:00:00.001+08:00

Its ironical to suffer from dry skin in a tropical hot and humid country but a high number of people do due to their air-conditioned surroundings. We're perpetually in air-conditioned areas from the work place, to our cars and homes. Hence, its not surprising that more people are turning to dehumidifier units to help to moisten the air in their homes and to reduce problems prolonged dry air brings such as asthma and dry skin.

Year End Holiday

2010-08-11T17:28:00.000+08:00

I've started doing a bit of planning for the year end family holiday and it is getting quite a nightmare to coordinate as we have a rather big group this time! Based on the research I have done, it also seems like New Zealand has quite a few insurance requirements but luckily most companies I researched have a proper list of car insurance companies you can contact separately or sign up with through them. I think its going to be a great trip together and one we would certainly enjoy! We just have to hope nothing will spoil the plans we have like bad weather or flight delays!

Need of Exercise

2010-07-30T09:57:00.003+08:00

My gym days are far over. These days I can't imagine waking up early to go to the gym and am impressed that I actually had the energy to wake every morning at 5am just to head out to the gym before work! My sleep is so much more important now!

I was always a fan of elliptical trainer machines whenever I went to the gym as I always thought it burnt the most calories for the shortest time! Hopefully it worked then after all those early morning sacrifices I made!

Needless to say, I'm in terrible need of exercise now but have not been able to find the inspiration to do some form of exercise yet. Help!

Investing in Gold

2010-07-23T09:27:00.002+08:00

During the recent financial crisis that happened just several months ago, many investors opted to turn to safer havens such as gold bullion instead. It has always been a known fact that precious metals such as gold bullion will continue to appreciate in value especially when the economy is bad and people have started to lose faith in paper financial products and even currencies. I lived through the Asian crisis in the late 1990s and I still remember articles depicting how Koreans came together as a nation to donate their gold jewellery to help the country come out of its recession.

I'm not much of an investor in precious metals and may have caught the gold rush a little late. However, I did buy some paper gold previously when the prices were lower. Then, I did not have enough to buy gold bullion instead of paper gold as those tend to be sold by a certain weight and is actual physical gold which is best kept in a safe. Despite the high price, a friend is still continuing to buy bullion for safe keeping as he says it will never come down. I would do the same if I had the same financial means! Would you?

World Cup Video Streaming

2010-07-23T08:59:00.002+08:00

We never realised how much we loved technology until World Cup season came around and we refused to pay the exorbitant fees cable TV was charging just to watch the World Cup. Luckily I snooped around and found some sites offering free video streaming live for all matches! No video card or any additional hardware required! All you had to do was just to play and it will show, albeit with some lags due to the connection speed. Nevertheless, lags and all, DH was hooked to the little laptop screen just to catch the matches so I guess it worked out well!

Eczema or Psoriasis

2010-07-09T13:30:00.002+08:00

DH has been battling skin allergies for some time already. He was always told that it was eczema and had been prescribed with all kinds of treatments for eczema from creams to tar and even strange prescriptions such as special water! However, when he recently went to see a doctor here for a flu, the doctor expressed some interest in his skin condition and told him that it might actually be psoriasis instead of eczema and if it was the case, the treatments he was using previously may not work. Perhaps it is a good time to get it checked out to ascertain what it really is.

Is Channel 5 Showing 3rd Place Play-Offs

2010-07-09T13:28:00.001+08:00

I'm glad the free national TV has decided to wise up and show the semi finals and finals of the World Cup. It is utterly unfair to expect people to sign up with cable TV just to watch the World Cup when across the border, Malaysian TV is showing it for free. I only wonder if they will show the Third Place Playoffs as well or whether that will be forgotten in all the lead up to the finals. Does anyone know?

Free Lunch

2010-07-09T13:22:00.002+08:00

I had a free lunch today thanks to the office! There was some events happening downstairs when I headed out to pack lunch and was told that it was available for the company's employees! Woohoo! :) So I tucked in although I wasn't that hungry. They had some interesting food I've never eaten before back home like deep fried cruellers stuffed with squid paste and chicken chipolata sausages cooked in a white onion sauce. Gosh, at this rate, I might need some fat burner medication to help me lose unwanted pounds or risk not being able to fit into my clothes!

Expensive Gynae

2010-07-08T14:27:00.002+08:00

I went by to see a gyane last weekend for my annual check up. Being new here, I had no idea which gynae to see and ended up choosing one that seemed quite good based on recommendations on forums. He was rather kindly and seemed experienced but came with very expensive rates! I checked and his consultations ranged from $100 to $150 per visit! Ouch! Luckily my company covers my medical expenses otherwise I'll definitely need to look for a cheaper gynae.

Post-Graduate Studies

2010-07-08T14:17:00.002+08:00

When I was seriously thinking of doing post-graduate studies such as a Masters, I consulted a few friends on their opinion. Some of them had done their Masters abroad full time whilst others did theirs part-time while working. I personally thought of doing one full time and did quite a bit of research on gmat prep, the best places to do it and the costs of doing something so expensive. I still haven't gotten round to doing my MBA but will definitely look more into the GMAT exam and tips for scoring once I've made up my mind.

Affordable Japanese Food

2010-07-08T14:08:00.003+08:00

I just came back from lunch and was pleased to find a new place with relatively affordable Japanese food. A nearby shopping mall had a whole area filled with Japanese stalls in the basement with affordable Japanese meals. I had a nice little mini rice don with around 4 pieces of fried chicken for an affordable $5! My colleagues thought it was too small but I found it just nice. I'm funny like that and often prefer eating smaller portions so I don't feel too greedy and overeat!

School Lockers

2010-07-06T13:16:00.002+08:00

When we were growing up and schooling, one thing I used to really wish for was the accessibility of School Lockers or Gym Lockers we could use to store our stuff. Having that would have meant having lighter schoolbags to carry and an area for people to catch up in between classes. I always used to watch American high school programmes with much envy as relationships bonded and formed over lockers or how students strolled to class with just a few books, having stored the rest in their own individual locker. I've heard that times have started to change and private schools here have actually started providing these facilities for their students. I hope to see public schools doing the same too as it will mean a permanent solution to childrens' heavy school bags and spine damage.

Market Researching

2010-07-04T17:30:00.002+08:00

I have a friend who used to work in market research and I personally found that a rather interesting area to work in especially since they were responsible for deciding whether many new products will hit the market eventually. Another interesting thing I found was how they managed to test some of the new products themselves before it was actually released to the market. Some products she passed to me to try were really good such as an anti-wrinkle cream that was so high profile that it couldn't even be named and was just called prototype 37c. Later, I found it to be one of the top selling creams in the pharmacies!

Healthy Eating

2010-07-04T17:28:00.001+08:00

Since we moved to Singapore, I find that we've been cooking a whole lot more compared to KL. Maybe because we have the convenience of a supermarket nearby which makes buying fresh food easy and also because fresh food here is actually quite cheap. It helps as well that DH comes back earlier and can start preparation on dinner first. Whatever it is, I'm glad to be eating healthier and more wholesome meals at home, especially since I get to eat a lot more of my favourite fish!

Should I Continue?

2010-07-04T17:23:00.002+08:00

I recently went for a check up and was warned against long term usage of antibiotics which my dermatologist put me on. With that, I find any face creams I use to be highly effective without causing any breakouts. Without it, my skin tends to go back to its old sensitive state where any cream doesn't seem to agree and breakouts tend to happen. What should I do? Should I stop my antibiotic course and live with sensitive skin or should I continue the antibiotic regime for a while more?

Inspiring Mindshift

2010-07-04T17:21:00.002+08:00

I spent most of the last week in training for a rather inspiring and interesting women's development course. It touched on some matters that were not just professional but rather personal too. What I came away from it was the need to be positive to get what you want in life and being able to always see the good side of things. Its going to be a mindshift for me but one that I find to be exceedingly important if I want to achieve what I hope to.

Good Medical Coverage

2010-07-04T17:19:00.002+08:00

I've been submitting lots of medical claims recently since we got here. I'm really lucky to get good medical coverage in Singapore which comes in very handy as medical fees here cost a lot. The wideness of coverage we get too is really useful as it even covers alternative treatment. Claiming is easy. All I need to do is to scan my invoices using the company document scanning software and mail it one to the Claims Department for their consideration. I've got a few claims outstanding and hopefully they'll be processed without problems.

Compliance Issues

2010-06-25T14:51:00.002+08:00

There's been a lot of recent issues cropping up at work, one of which I was smack in the middle of! The reason why everyone has been up in arms is that it involves compliance for which non-compliance carries a hefty fine. I've spoken to a few people and some think that we are over-analysing and going too much into the details. Others, however, think otherwise especially if they were the ones who signed it! The way I see it, as long as they don't read us the Louisiana Jones Act or any other scary Act, it should be sufficient to ensure we have a robust and good process to fall back on. Oh well, let's see what the final decision will be from the people in power.

Cold Day

2010-06-25T14:47:00.002+08:00

Its such a cold and dreary day today! It was pouring all morning and I had not seen this kind of rain in a long while. The rain was the kind that makes you wish you could just snuggle up in a warm bed and go right back to sleep or at least have the comfort of a car to make the commute to work a little less painful. Unfortunately, we don't have the luxury of both! So I arrived in the office in wet jeans and poor DH seems to have caught the cold after being drenched in the rain on the way to his office. Hope he gets better soon!

Extra Coaching

2010-06-22T13:14:00.002+08:00

I had a child-filled weekend with DH's nieces. There were good moments and some really tough moments especially when the children started acting up. One surprising thing I learnt was how competitive schooling years are for children these days. There are all kinds of extra-curriculur activities they attend nowadays and all kinds of tuition. One of DH's nieces was telling me about her Statistics tutor whose classes she attended during the school holidays for Statistics help in her weaker Statistics subjects. She used to face quite a bit of Statistics problems when she first started school and always had a lot of trouble doing the Statistics questions her school assigned. Her parents tried to help but found that they were providing Statistics answers instead of encouraging her to think the problem through. So, having no other resort, they had to turn to tutoring to improve her weak subject. However, nothing is free in this world, not even free Statistics help so if you're a parent whose child is facing some problems at school, do be prepared to invest a little in helping them!

Coverage All Around

2010-06-21T13:15:00.002+08:00

I happened to chance upon a magazine yesterday which said that one needed at least $350k just to raise a kid here! Can you imagine that?! I certainly can't because the thought of having to save that huge amount of money is daunting! The article went on to suggest for parents to put part of the savings into Real Life Cover insurance for their children as part of the investment plan. Often, parents forget that children need life insurance as much as they do and miss out that important part of coverage. The other insurance the article suggested buying was income insurance which is absolutely necessary in the unfortunate event one parent loses their job or is unable to work further.

It seems like there is an insurance for everything these days from funeral cover insurance to maternity insurance cover. While I don't deny that insurance is necessary, I think it is more necessary to carefully evaluate what insurance exactly you require and allocate your disposable income accordingly.

Investment Choices

2010-06-21T13:11:00.002+08:00

I've been asking around what would be the best investments here especially since we aren't familiar with the market. We haven't saved all that much but hoped to maximise the savings we had instead of leaving it in the bank where we will end up losing money to inflation. I was considering to buy gold coins or maybe even shares but surprisingly the recommendations I received here was always to buy property. That's a really scary investment right now as the property prices are at an all time high and there has been a lot of rumours about it being a property bubble. Yet, other camps say the prices can only ever go up higher. Its a hard decision to make and I'm really not sure what we should invest in. Does anyone have suggestions of the best investments in Singapore?

Math Help

2010-06-15T11:40:00.002+08:00

I was having lunch with my colleagues recently and one of them was just telling us her children had hardly any time at all. It sounded a little sad but it is unfortunately true as children here attend all kinds of tuition for Math help or English help. In some cases, they go for additional enrichment classes which ends up eating into their weekends. Even DH's 16 year old niece recently complained that she had no time even to look after her pet hamster!

Perhaps parents here should seriously relook at their childrens' school and extra curriculum activities or consider a Online Tutor service which will provide Free Online Tutoring or Math Problem Solver skills at each child's own time and convenience. I recently came across some good sites which specialized in Online Math Tutor help and comprise largely of university graduates who have pooled together their time and resources to form a Math Tutors Online group to help K-12 and college student with their challenging Math assignments.

Times have certainly changed and if you're a parent who has never had a Math Tutor guide you before, don't expect the same for your child! School just has become so challenging and important that parents can no longer afford to be hands off and complacent.

Dermatologist Visits

2010-06-01T18:00:00.002+08:00

Right at the top of my priority list when I went back to KL last weekend was a visit to the dermatologist to treat acne that I've recently developed again. Going to see him is no easy feat as it involves waking up very early to queue outside his office to get a number! Then more waiting at his clinic to see him for 2 minutes before I'm finally done. It is a waste of the entire morning but still something I have to do to try to stabilise my skin and try to keep the acne at bay.

Going Short

2010-06-01T17:57:00.002+08:00

I did something drastic over the weekend - cutting my hair short into a bob! I have not had short hair for over 6 years already but decided it was finally time for a change. Honestly, cutting my hair so short was a big decision as I have had short hair for most of my life and never liked it. However, keeping my hair long was starting to get irritating as it was growing out of control and started looking very limp since it did not have much body. Luckily I got mostly positive comments about my new hairstyle though I can't wait for it to grow out a little so it'll look better!

Keeping Beautiful

2010-06-01T17:52:00.002+08:00

Magazines are always full of how celebrities keep thin, their bizarre diets, fat burning products they consume and their impossible diet secrets. But what most people don't realise is that celebrities have a whole host of people, money and experts whose sole responsibilities are to ensure they keep beautiful and fit in the public eye. If we all had the same resources to invest in being beautiful, I'm sure we will all be body perfect too!

The End

2010-05-26T18:40:00.000+08:00

There's a time when every great show comes to an end, every song trails off into its last notes and every curtain needs to fall.

Funky Cookies was started 2 years ago, a brainchild of 2 friends then, who wanted to chronicle their eating and cooking adventures. Over 2 years, it has changed from a foodblog to a mish-mash blog and so I figured it was probably time for the curtain to fall on Funky Cookies.

...

...

And for a new one to rise at:

http://pinkelle.com

So hop on your silver jet, your swanky car, bicycle or run, don't walk, and come visit me there! Please also update your links as I'll be blogging from there now! Thank you for your continued visits here and I hope to see you all there soon!

Lots of ♥ ~Pink Elle~

Losing Weight Quickly

2010-05-26T12:15:00.002+08:00

My colleagues were talking about a famous local actress over lunch the other day. Ironically she became famous not because of her acting skills but because she had to have a liver donation after she took too many weight loss pill products! Luckily for her, her then fiance and now husband was generous enough to donate part of his liver to help her live. That caused a huge scare over weight loss pills for a while. However, the trend seems to be back now with lots of young girls opting for that quick and fast way to weight loss.

Wild Goose Chase

2010-05-26T12:13:00.001+08:00

There's nothing worse than having to fight a fire that you didn't start. I've been swamped for the most of the past few days doing just that and its been really frustrating. Most of the information I need all have to come in from other sources and because I haven't been in the job all that long, I end up asking the wrong questions which don't get me the right answers. It has been a crazy wild goose chase and I'm hoping it can get sorted out before I head off for the long weekend. I don't really want that hanging over my head.

Yummy Mummies

2010-05-26T12:10:00.002+08:00

I have been told by so many women that having children at a young age helps them get back into shape relatively quickly compared to those who have children later. I've also noticed that women in my office all come back nice and svelte after their maternity leave and most look like they're not mothers at all! I really wonder how they do it or whether they have any good curvatrim reviews or slimming centre reviews to share. It does make having babies such a daunting task not only for the 9 month ordeal but also for the losing weight ordeal that comes after!

Morning Walk

2010-05-26T12:04:00.001+08:00

I tried taking a walk this morning from the nearest MRT station to my office instead of taking the train to the next station and catching the office bus. It took slightly longer, around 15 minutes or so but I found it rather refreshing as my walk took me past a nice park and lots of greenery. Maybe I should start doing this more often if the mornings aren't too hot. I do enjoy the little space of quiet time I have to myself and my thoughts in that few minutes. Hopefully it does something for my unwanted pounds too! :P

Career Change

2010-05-26T11:50:00.002+08:00

I recently did an online personality assessment and as I thought, my current job might actually not be the right fit for me as my strengths don't quite fit my job! That's quite a problem, don't you think? Perhaps I should consider a new career or a change in my life direction starting with signing up for some accredited online degree programmes. Although the thought of having to study again and work while doing it is really quite daunting!

Hotel Memberships

2010-05-26T11:48:00.001+08:00

It is ironical but there can actually be too much of a good thing sometimes. We used to join the membership of a certain hotel chain when we were back in Malaysia which offered free dining and rooms. It seemed like a good idea then for a short break. However, now with the expiry date looming, it suddenly becomes a pressure to finish those vouchers so they don't go to waste! That becomes doubly hard now since time at home is so limited! I think this is the last time we'll be joining such things!

Home Businesses

2010-05-26T11:45:00.002+08:00

I've recently seen a sudden influx of home based business women popping up all over the internet. The most popular choice of business seems to be selling cheap clothes via online boutiques. I've actually seen the source of these clothes and they can be very cheap which does mean a pretty decent profit for the business owners. However, do be careful to only buy from reputable online blogshops as the quality of some can be quite compromised and the end product might not look anything like the one the pretty model is wearing!

Should I Join Lunch?

2010-05-26T11:43:00.001+08:00

I'm so glad there's another long weekend to look forward to this coming weekend. I do live for times like this! We'll be heading back tomorrow night after work. I am still wondering if I should join some colleagues for lunch tomorrow as they tend to head out for really long lunches which will leave me with not much time to sort out all my work before I leave on the dot to catch the bus. But not joining will mean being labelled antisocial! Sigh, it is never easy, is it?

Our Small Place

2010-05-26T11:37:00.003+08:00

After being Down South for 3 months or so, I've gotten used to the small living area we now have. Cleaning, in fact, has become quite easy which is definitely a good thing that came out of it. We got the place practically fully furnished and one thing I simple cannot understand is why the land lady put in such big and bulky living room furniture when the space is already so tiny! She has a whole set of furniture which is really ugly to me and two contemporary coffee tables which has a moveable glass top! Add our own furniture in and I must say we don't have much floor space left! Well, the only concession is that the rent is cheap and the location incredibly convenient!

Good Break

2010-05-20T14:16:00.001+08:00

We just got back from a short break to Club Med Mauritius. It was a really gorgeous resort and I have to say that we did absolutely nothing but eat (lots!) and sleep! What bliss! This resort was the first one we went to where there were hardly any Asians around. Most of the tourists were European French who spent most of their days next to the pools eating, drinking and smoking cohiba cigars. I must say that these Westerners certainly know how to enjoy themselves!

Staying Healthy

2010-05-10T09:00:00.002+08:00

I've been encouraging DH to reduce belly fat for ages as I don't think its healthy to be carrying so much weight around your belly. I've also read that it is bad for health as it means that your organs are likely covered with a layer of fat which is not good for the vital organs. Unfortunately, he loves food and fatty stuff and asking him to cut down on those really kills him! Sigh, I wonder why men have such low focus and willpower. Perhaps because beauty is less important in the male world!

Expats in Asia

2010-05-10T08:56:00.001+08:00

I was watching a programme last night about expatriates in Asia. Most of them have made cities such as Singapore and Hong Kong their home and seem to love it there. I found it a little sad though that most of them don't view KL as a dynamic city to be in. I guess many people are worried with the recent political instability and unfair practices. However, I do believe there are still opportunities there if you look hard enough. What do you think?

Controlling Eczema

2010-05-10T08:53:00.003+08:00

DH has eczema patches that can become quite bad at times. He sometimes unconsciously scratches at it till it bleeds which can be rather unsightly. We've been trying to look for natural eczema treatments to reduce the amount of steroid creams he's using. My mom recently read about the powers of Olivenol and suggested that he try it. DH is now on it. It isn't cheap but hopefully over time it will reduce the eczema problems he's facing. I believe it will help if he controls his diet. Unfortunately for someone who loves food, its surely asking the impossible!

Chiropractor Care

2010-05-10T08:51:00.002+08:00

DH and I went for a chiropractic appointment last Saturday. It was my first time seeing a chiropractor and I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive. Turns out that the doctor was really friendly so I had nothing to worry about anyway! Based on their initial checks, it does seem like DH and I do need some treatments to correct our posture and spine alignment. Turns out that this is a really common problem too especially amongst office people who sit for extended periods with bad posture.

Trying to Stay Fair

2010-05-10T08:37:00.002+08:00

I really need to start seeing my dermatologist in KL again despite the long queues. My skin has started breaking out again with some recent acne problems on my nose and chin. Sigh! I was just starting to enjoy clear skin and not having to deal with adult acne treatments anymore! I think the heat and walking around under the sun here doesn't help that much. I feel like I'm a lot darker already despite some reassurances from my friends. Any tips on how to stay fair in this island country?

Gold Investments

2010-04-30T08:54:00.002+08:00

I was in Chinatown recently and noticed that the gold shops were full of people rushing to buy gold! I know the Chinese have always had lots of faith in gold and often buy gold bullion piece, gold jewellery and gold bars. Keeping gold instead of stocks or cold hard cash them a whole lot more valuable than keeping cash which is subject to inflation. With the way the recent gold prices have been heading, I can't help but agree with this age old investing wisdom and its just a pity the prices are now too high to consider something like that. I do have some gold jewellery but I find that yellow gold does not suit my skin well and has a tendency to look tarnished after a while. White gold is much nicer but unfortunately does not fetch as much value so it looks like I don't have much choice but to keep my investments in non-gold items! What about you?

Slim Challenges

2010-04-21T16:29:00.002+08:00

I have a friend who's really skinny even after the birth of her baby. She just can't put on weight in spite of how much she eats and she recently told me that she's so tired of people asking her how she maintains her figure and whether she can recommend any weight loss pills that work! She once got so irritated that she gave the other person a real piece of her mind which I found very surprising as she's usually quite mild-mannered. I never thought that being slim would come with its challenges too!

Traditional Doctor

2010-04-21T16:22:00.002+08:00

I'll be following my colleague to a traditional Chinese medical doctor on Friday. The doctor is apparently very good with circulation and female problems. Apparently the queues are really long because she would see her regular patients first before seeing new patients and since its a charity hospital, you can't really jump queue either! Hopefully we won't have to wait too long this Friday. Its going to be an interesting experience as I've never seen a traditional doctor or sinseh before.

Deep Cleansing

2010-04-21T16:20:00.001+08:00

The fad for colon cleansing with products such as colonix has died down a little after much hype a few years back. I think what contributed most to the hype was the fact that Princess Diana used to undergo that treatment on a regular basis to detox and remain slim. I'm not sure if it can really help you lose weight in the long term but I certainly do believe that it will help in detoxifying your body of all its toxins. However, I still can't bring myself to try it. Can you?

Flexi Time

2010-04-21T16:18:00.002+08:00

The hubs seems to have busy weeks ahead of him. He's going off overseas for work and actually asked if I would like to go along. Its really tempting but I'm not sure if my boss will appreciate me taking leave so often in so short a period. I guess its best not to rock the boat especially since I'm trying to take long leave at the end of the year. These are times when I wish I didn't have to work and had my own flexibiilty!