Fitness Dates

Everyone has his or her own list of criterias when searching for a special friend, a date or a potential life partner. Often it might be a little difficult to meet single like minded men and women who are into fitness and health.

If you are into taking good care of yourself and looking for someone who shares a similar interest, or simply a partner whom you could go jogging, do fitness sports or to the gym with, "fitness dating" might be just for you.

Fitnessdates.com offers the ability to search for that special date based on location, age and sex. There is also an option to block or report a member.

Most importantly, once you have signed up for free (yes, it is FREE!), you could start searching from thousands of fitness singles in the database. Happy looking!

New houses sold out in a snap

Just as I predicted! The neighbouring newest suburb The Ponds within 5 minutes drive from our home released 9 units of completed new homes in recent weeks and they were snapped up immediately!

The SMH reported that some people even camped there overnight just to be first in the queue.

I've always told hubby that if we had the financial means, we should really get an investment property near our area as it seems to be a much sought after place with all the new land releases and the fact that the biggest shopping complex in the southern hemisphere is being built in Rouse Hill must be pushing up the demand for housing nearby.

Unfortunately I do not think my FIL would be interested to live in Sydney, otherwise we would strongly encourage them to build a new home in one of these new neighbouring suburbs because I foresee in the very near future, it would be close to impossible to buy a new 4 bedroom single storey home here without forking out close to or at least half a million dollars and if double storey, forget about half a million, it'll be at least AU$650-700k (based on the offers my neighbours have been getting eventhough they didn't advertise to sell and the price of new houses recently sold for, in our estate).

And to think that the real estate frenzy has cooled? Certainly not so where we live! It is still too crazy! No wonder we get RE leaflets/calendars in the mailbox often, offering free valuation of homes (which we might just take up once our garden is completely done). One RE office even took the trouble to snap a photo of every house and stuck them to their calendar and popped them into the respective homes' mailboxes - hoping to entice us to sell up!

Web Design made easy

Every now and then I hear people telling me about their interest in setting up a webpage design business. The only setback is that they are not too confident with their HTML knowledge nor do they have time to provide continuous web design support to their clients.

That is not a problem anymore, I can now direct them to consider using Light content management system, an easy to use yet powerful tool for those who wish to provide high-end professional web services for their clients.

The most important thing is that it allows the flexibility to private label and resell as one’s own web design. Clients will never see the Light logo or name. You may upload your own logo on the software’s toolbar. Free demo sites could also be created individually for each client.

Not only that, your clients may load and manage their own content through easy to use tools. This saves you from having to offer support even for a simple task such as updating a page or replacing/add an image.

I think this is a good system especially for those who have interest in webpage design and wish to bring it to the next level by making it a business. Like everything else, why not try the free version first and see for yourself.

Big Toys Sale

Kmart, Target and BigW are having huge Toys sale this school holiday. Went and shopped around but didn't really see anything I would like to get for my girl. And since it is now school holidays, the malls are jam packed with people and kids! I dislike going to the mall when school's out (yes I am biased because I would not think this way if my kid is of school going age). The queues are long, difficult to find a parking spot and even the foodcourts are usually full! City life!

Garage Storage System

Some may remember how messy and disorganised our garage was and still is. I have often thought about setting a good garage storage system to best utilise the garage space. In my opinion, a good system would be to install metal pegboard on the garage walls. Our neighbours’ garages have similar garage storage system and we too are in desperate need of one.

We would like something that can hold a lot of weight, from power tools to, gardening tools, brooms, car tools and other heavy items. Metal pegboard seems to be the perfect solution.

I would probably go for the colourful powder coated metal pegboards. It is funky and colours will surely bring life into an otherwise dull and cold looking garage. Because it is hung on the walls, it looks neat and saves floor space.

Innocent children

What kind of a human being could do this to a 3 year old girl - lip and ear bitten off! Full article here.

Children are so innocent. They didn't ask to be born only to get abused in whatever form. I wish I could hug this girl and all little children who were and are being abused in the world.

I saw on Oprah months ago, about how innocent children were mistreated (I really mean mistreated in the worst unimaginable way!), tied to chairs and beds, neglected in a room, etc etc ... I could not even type them here. I would never ever spank, cane, slap, tie, push, etc a child! A search on Google will bring up many articles on this.

After that show I understood even more why many Americans love to adopt little girls from China. I am sure many want to "save" those innocent children whom otherwise will suffer so much. I am also happy to see that in Australia itself, there are many people (especially Ang Mohs) who adopted from China, Korea, etc too.

There was an adoption documentary that I watched maybe 2 years ago, about a young Australian couple being put on countless interviews and put on a two year waitlist to adopt a child. In the end they were finally given a baby boy from Korea.

The struggle did not end there. Because the couple are Ang Mohs, one of their friends questioned their decision to adopt an Asian child and probably could not accept their choice. You know what? The young Ang Moh said sorry to his friend that if his friend could not accept their Asian child, his friend has to leave (bye bye to friendship loh). This couple is well mannered, educated and I could see how loving they are. Truly the baby boy is very blessed to have them as parents, who will not only give him shelter, food, eduction and love but protection too. The whole adoption process wasn't cheap for them, they spent about AU$17k.

Now and then I have thought about adoption too but there is no way we could afford one and to be on a wait list, it would be a lot of struggle for us. BUT if we were millionaires, I would seriously consider adopting a child from a less fortunate environment because I want so much to show the child what a beautiful life is, that there is hope, love, peace, joy and freedom. I must say, I am blessed that my hubby shares the same views as me. I am also pretty sure that if we weren't blessed with our little girl, we would be looking into adoption too.

Even now, if back home in Malaysia, if anyone I know, desperately could not raise their child or know of anyone in such a condition and wishing to give up their child, I would really consider it - bring the child here and raise as our own in Australia. But I read the law on adoption in Malaysia. It seems that I would not be allowed to bring the child home with me to Australia unless I stayed in Malaysia with the child for a minimum of 2 years?!

Well, if I were a millionaire, adoption would be my priority.

Life Insurance Quotes Comparison

I remember the days when we had to shop around for the best life insurance quotes for ourselves. It was really tough and mind boggling having to look at what various insurance companies have to offer. So many products, so many different pricing.

Don’t be like us, you can save yourself a lot of trouble and get the best life insurance rates possible by using the services of a one-stop life insurance shopping portal like Insurance.com. You can instantly compare insurance quotes from top insurance companies at the click of a mouse. If you are uncomfortable buying life insurance online, there is also a phone number to Insurance.com’s call center, staffed by qualified insurance professionals who would be more than happy to walk you through the ordering process.

Either way, it saves you money by giving you the best life insurance rates. Like Insurance.com says, “May the best quote win”!

iPhone

Everybody knows that iPhone has hit the market ... well err, except in Australia where it will only be released for sale next year. Boohoo, we always seem to get things last over here! Just look at this guy, so happy was he, it's almost like he was doing a commercial.

I have an old Nokia monophone (goodness, who on earth still uses monophones?? ME!!). Well I am glad I waited and didn't bother to buy one of the tiny, sleek, beautiful phones (very tempted though!) because buahahahahaha, maybe I will get myself an iPhone before hubs does?

Get rid of termites

Termites infestation is a major problem in most households. My brother’s house got infested with termites on the walls where the kitchen cabinets were installed. Yes it was gross alright! The whole kitchen cabinets had to be removed to rid the termites.

I fear termites too. We are currently using the liquid treatment but I don’t think it is very environmentally friendly. If you are like us, not wanting to use potentially environmentally damaging liquid treatment, you might wish to look into using termite bait around your house instead. Baits use very small doses of chemicals and are ONLY toxic to certain kinds of insects and the results of fully eliminating the colony is far better than liquid treatment.

If you own a home, you should not take termites infestation lightly. It really could do much damage to your home. Better be prepared than sorry. If you would like to equip yourself with more knowledge about termites and how to get rid of them, Termites Guide has all the answers.

Rate rises in 2008?

Oh no, that's not what I would like to hear. Mortgage is speculated to rise in 2008 - full details here. That is bad news for all homeowners slaving away to meet repayments. Really I think standard of living in Sydney is okay-ish, for example, buying fresh foods from the supermarket, buying new cars, etc is relatively cheap (well if you don't convert to weaker currencies to compare with that is, I am speaking in terms of earn AUD and spend AUD) but of course except buying houses and eating out (these are the killers!).

Okay back to the point, I would not be surprised if we would be forced to sell our home someday due to sky rocketing mortgage repayments! I hope not!!

Good pet advice

We all love our pets and most of us would do anything to keep them flea free! My younger brother has 4 beautiful dogs at my family’s home. Sometimes they do tend to get fleas easily. I am sure he would find these great tips on how to deal with dog fleas, very useful.

Not only that, did you know that a flea bite on human could be very aggravating? It causes itch and raised bumps. Fleas can jump about two feet high. I think that's amazing for such a tiny creature!

There is honestly so much more that I was not fully aware of, about fleas. Fleascontrol.com sure offers a lot of very good information about fleas and the measures we could take to prevent them. It also has FAQ's for a number of pet health related questions for dogs and cats.

It is a good site to bookmark and pass along!

Hubs & movies

Whoa, my hubby was ecstatic after returning home past midnight from watching Transformers the movie. It was released in Australia yesterday and because Transformers has such a huge following, the cinemas were jam packed. He wishes to watch it again and I have no problems with that because I know how much he enjoys movies. He used to watch Star Wars, Spiderman and other movies several times at the cinemas (of course I didn't accompany him for most of the repeats, haha). Anyway, he said he wouldn't watch it again and would prefer to spend that money to buy the DVD next time. Alamak! And there I thought he was gonna be a good boy and really save money, ceh!

I let him indulge in movies and collecting movie DVDs because I think it is a healthy hobby as long as it does not break the pockets. It is much better than some men going to the pub often or to the casino, or smoke, etc.

I must say that ever since we got this home and our little girl, he does not simply buy DVDs for the sake of collecting anymore (only the ones that he really likes). I didn't have to control him :)

FriendFinder.com Free membership

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Digicam going kaput

The stocktake sale will end soon! We haven't bought a single thing on our electrical item "to buy" list. One of the things we have held back from buying is a Sony 30GB HDD Camcorder costing about AU$850-900. After having a mortgage, we need to think a thousand times before splurging on such an amount, hehe.

I remember splurging AU$1,300 in year 2002, on our current out of date, going kaput anytime soon, Fuji Finepix Digicam! These days you can get a super duper powerful digicam with that price or a reasonably good one at a quarter of that price even! Oh well, the things you buy and do when you were carefree, hehe!

We're considering a Sony T100 digicam that costs about AU$600+ at most places. We're still holding back because this month alone we are already spending close to AU$2k on the lawn and soil not including the pots and plants we'll be buying. Just hope that our current digicam won't die on us so soon!

Microsoft MGX Conf in Orlando

Many people would be flocking to the annual Microsoft MGX Conference held in Orlando and it could be difficult to book a place when the date draws nearer. Don’t delay, you could get a cheap, nice and comfy room at the International Plaza Resort and Spa in Orlando, Florida.

Book now to take advantage of its Microsoft MGX Special Rate of only $119 a night. The best thing is that this luxury hotel is located within walking distance to the steps of the convention center where the convention is being held.

And of course, most importantly, there is free wireless acess throughout the property and complimentary transportation to all major themeparks. It is also only a walk away from restaurants and other famous tourist attractions such as SeaWorld, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando and many more.

Have a look at what the hotel is like by visiting its website.

Census Result

The latest census results are out! I always like reading the census findings. It is interesting to note that while incomes have increased by $100, a smaller proportion of people own their homes outright.

The current Australian population is 20.7 million (less than Malaysia I think). The median age is 37, up from 35 :( This means we're an ageing population with lower fertility rates and higher life expectancy.

Full details of the census results could be viewed here

Excellent Furniture Website

Buying furniture has become second nature to us right after we moved into our newly built home last year. When we were shopping for Furniture from Home makes it easy to navigate, displays all photos beautifully including clear description of each item and most importantly, includes pricing. It also provides the ability to shop by “room”, “style” or “color” with its advanced search option. You could even Request for a Catalogue to be mailed to you. Not only that, if you purchase anything from them, you could even track your shipment online on its website. Now that is something I have not seen in any of the other furniture companies I had purchased from. I give Furniture from Home website a thumbs up.

It saves a whole lot of time having all the details and information you need within the click of a mouse especially if you are a busy person working from home and need to shop for some Home Office Furniture.

I love L sectional sofa furniture set as it saves a lot of space and tend to make the place look neater too. Other classy yet comfy sectionals available at Furniture from Home are worth considering.

Credit: Beautiful sectional sofa image Copyright (c) Furniture from Home

Hole in the wall

What a day it was! A big hole the size of an A4 paper on the wall of our 1+ year old home! OUCH! No doubt my heart ached! How did the hole come about? Courtesy of hubby. It was an accident of course. He was holding onto Bee and swaying around till he stepped onto a cord on the floor, stumbled, and his right shoulder hit the wall hard, BANG!

I guess this calls for a real DIY job. We covered the whole with an A4 size cardboard and held it in place with duck tape for now. Just don't have the time to take care of it at the moment as we are racing time to get the lawn in because the weather has been unpredictable with rain pouring most of the time, making the ground very soggy.

Save with coupons

Discounts and coupons are everyone’s favourites. Who couldn’t do with a little bit of savings? Be sure to look for discount codes before going on an online shopping spree! KeepCash is a terrific site to get discount codes for the newest bargains on the web from many merchants and its site is updated daily with the latest coupons and product deals.

Most of us would order flowers at some time, why not save by using discount codes for your flower orders at Flower.com? It would be quite a bit of savings if you are a person who loves to send flowers the whole year round. Guys, please take note, this would be beneficial to your pockets!

There are over 1,000 merchants to shop at such as digital products, jewelry and many more!

Property Prices Up again?!

Property prices going up again! That's according to a recent article in The Sydney Morning Herald. Being a homeowner now, I should jump for joy but I don't! Simply because I sympathise with those who really couldn't afford a home because the prices keep skyrocketing! We were once in their shoes! Prices shot up by the week! Yes by the week, not by the month or year! The property boom was insane!

But of course, it has made many, many, many people millionaires now! Too bad we weren't one of them! I could go on and on talking about the property boom and its ugly side of it. I remember those times vividly. I would surf realestate.com.au every single day! Thank goodness it's all over now, phew! But really, I wish we had a home right after our marriage, things would have been very different :)

Celebrity News

Don’t we all just love celebrity gossips? I for one, am a ardent follower of celebrity news. I am very nosey and I cannot deny that it interests me to find out what is happening in the lives of Hollywood stars, singers and other celebrities. Afterall, when someone says “Oh have you heard about so and so actress/actor …” I don’t want to be left in the dark.

There is this refreshing celebrity news site which not only offers the latest updates to our favourite stars as but also allows us to vote and leave comments on each news. That is so cool. The most important thing is, the site is clean, with no annoying pop up ads!

Paypal Oz Merchant Page

Looks like Paypal Australia has got a few more merchants to accept Paypal as a payment method. That's good news, except that I don't usually shop at those stores. See Paypal's new list here. But it's cool, companies like Red Balloon sells adventure trip vouchers (not much use to me now). Remember to always check Paypal's merchant page before doing online shopping because there's usually free shipping codes or discount codes published there. You can save yourself around AU$5.95 - $15 worth of shipping costs when you use the codes.

Also, I wonder when Paypal Australia will offer Paypal Mastercard like Paypal USA. I am eagerly waiting for it!

Small Business Loans

Thinking about starting a small business but afraid if the big banks would not care to give you a chance to present your business proposal? Why not try AdvanceRestaurantFinance.com for small business loans?

ARF places short term, working capital loans for small to medium-sized merchants. Also, since the working capital you will receive is a loan, the interest you pay is tax deductible, further lowering the net effective rate you are paying for your funds. A-R-F specializes in loans for restaurants and retailers.

More details about small business loans in particular, could be found on its website here

Power Bill to rise

Power Bill to rise
June 19, 2007

Read in yesterday's SMH news that power bill in NSW is set to rise! Full article here. All I can say is "What the??" As if everything else is not already expensive.

This surely isn't a welcome news to those struggling to make ends meet. The recent tax cut serves no purpose that's for sure! Tsk, tsk, tsk! Sometimes it makes me laugh a little about how things work around here ... first, the Taxman gives you some tax relief then other sources take them back almost immediately.

And the Reserve Bank always seem to be trying to push the rates up citing inflation!

Love Online Coupons

Don't we all absolutely love to buy toys for the little ones? I live in Australia and mailing toys to family and friends overseas such as USA may prove terribly expensive. Often the postage would cost more than the gift itself!

But with online shopping easily available these days, especially stores in the USA, it eliminates the need of my having to post gifts overseas. Not only would I save on postage, I could get great discounts and free shipping within USA at CouponChief.com!

The Baby, Kids & Toys section has a good number of kid onlines stores to shop at, such as KBToys (free shipping over 800 items), BabyCenter (free shipping on orders over $49) and WebClothes (free shipping on orders over $20) just to name a few.

Credits: Learning Mower image Copyright (c) KBToys; Pullcart image Copyright (c) BabyCenter; Romper image Copyright (c) WebClothes

Back Fence Up

The back fence is all done! Total cost is AU$600 but shared 50-50 between us and the back neighbour so we pay AU$300 each. The wait to have the lawn done and plant some flowers is really killing me!

Because there is no lawn now, the ground gets soggy after the rain. On dry days, there'd be ants and insects all over the ground. My poor baby wants to get down onto the ground whenever we're at the backyard. Hubby is trying his best to complete the garden edgings but I reckon it would take at least one more month for him to complete the backyard and frontyard seeing that it's rainy weather lately.

So much work to do on a new home, it is a complete MADNESS especially when you have a baby and only one of you could work at a time. Things have been so crazy over here that we've not yet taken a photo of the fence, come to think of it.

Celebrity Sunglasses

Hollywood’s A List celebrities and socialites have such great influence on today’s fashion trends including designer eyewear! Just look at the designer sunglasses made famous by the likes of Paris Hilton, the Olsen twins, Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson just to name a few.

Young people tend to idolise celebrities and want to look as cool as them thus willing to spend lots of money on Top Designer Eyewear to stay on the latest trend. Young men and ladies alike, their purchasing decision is likely to be influenced by their favourite superstars.

My hubby is into mens designer sunglasses too but simply because of the quality the brandname delivers. I reckon he looks super cool in his Ray-Ban eyewear.

Want to look cool and trendy? Try getting a Top Designer Eyewear for yourself or loved ones!


Credit: Image Copyright (c) opticsplace.com

Winter Temps

It's winter time in Australia. Here is what the temps for the rest of the week looks like:

It's nice to be outdoors in cold temps when the sun is out but awful when there is no sun. Unfortunately it is forecasted to rain for the next 7 days ... brrrr ... wet and cold, you can't really do much except to stay indoors.

My poor hubs is racing against time to get the edgings done and I must reiterate, I am mighty proud of his progress. He spent 8 hours on Queen's Birthday in the backyard working away. Way to go, hubs and thanks for the great effort.

Weather forecast image Copyright (c) weatherzone.com.au

The Revolution Accelerates

WOW! Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better than the previous PPP Direct Launches, you guys and gals definitely need to check out PPP’s Lucky 7s Promotion! Try to get some time off your ultra busy schedule between noon today and noon next Tuesday for the biggies! Why? Read on …

PPP has just received a mega huge $7 million dollars in funding this morning itself and to celebrate, PPP will be releasing $7k worth of PPP Opps. The best thing is that the Opps will range from $10.77, $70 or super huge $700! To be fair to all, PPP will not be segmenting these Opps.

Hats off to the good folks at PPP for rewarding its Posties greatly as soon as they receive humongous fundings. It is also very nice of PPP to thank everyone for support too. In fact, we should be thanking PPP for changing many people’s lives, especially those struggling to make ends meet or putting themselves through education.

It is amazing how quick PPP has grown and advanced worldwide. So business owners and corporations, if you haven’t already, perhaps it is time to advertise on blogs. Never undermine the power of blogging these days – it has taken the world by storm!

Here is PPP's press release on the $7 million funding:


The PayPerPost Revolution Accelerates, Sponsored
Blogging Marketplace Secures $7 Million Series B

Draper Fisher Jurvetson leads round and joins Board of Directors

ORLANDO, FL – (June 12, 2007) – PayPerPost, the leading marketplace for advertisers to reach bloggers and other consumer content creators, today announced it has completed a $7 million second round investment led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson, an investor in the company's Series A and one of the world’s leading high-technology venture capital firms. The financing brings the total amount of capital raised by PayPerPost to over $10 million, giving the company considerable resources for further development as the industry’s leading Consumer Generated Advertising marketplace. Additional participants in the round include existing investors Inflexion Partners and Village Ventures as well as new investor DFJ Gotham. With this investment, DFJ Managing Director Josh Stein also joins PayPerPost’s Board of Directors.

“PayPerPost created this exciting new advertising space and has established itself as the industry leader,” said Ted Murphy, chief executive officer of PayPerPost. “Although we’ve only used a portion of our first round capital, this added support from investors unlocks significant growth potential. Our content creator and advertiser ROI metrics clearly demonstrate the upside for PayPerPost’s model. We intend to use this capital to build the infrastructure, visibility and professional expertise necessary to reach and retain a greater network of advertisers and content creators than ever before.”

Since its founding in June of 2006, PayPerPost has signed more than 6,500 advertisers to its groundbreaking service, which has enabled Consumer Content Creators to be compensated for their efforts discussing specific companies, products or services via blogs, videos or other media. The content creators are required to disclose relationships with advertisers on their blog, providing transparency for the end reader. Over 125,000 Internet postings, most in the form of blogs, have already earned money for their creators through PayPerPost’s innovative marketplace. PayPerPost recently released PayPerPost Direct, a disruptive new service that allows advertisers to contract and negotiate directly with individual bloggers they identify through a safe, managed system.

“PayPerPost has laid a strong foundation for the future,” noted Tim Draper, founder and managing director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson. “It continues to attract a critical mass of participants from both the advertising and blogging communities. Analogous to Overture’s sponsored search model, we believe PayPerPost’s business model holds disruptive potential and will enable the company to thrive in the evolving paid-content arena.”

To mark the $7 million dollar funding, PayPerPost has launched a new website detailing the company’s service offering at http://www.payperpost.com. Bloggers and advertisers can easily sign up at the site and begin leveraging the self service marketplace.

Thanks 4 Your Votes

Getting votes from advertisers must be second nature to most but it is rare for me - thankfully I did get a few. I have been trying to figure out which advertisers voted me but since there is no way to find that out, I thought I would just take the chance and write a short "THANK YOU" note here to the advertisers who so kindly gave me their votes (hopefully the advertisers concerned might stumble upon this entry and know that I value and appreciate their votes).

My principle is to always try and give my best in any opps, even if it is a small opp. To me, it is not just about getting posts approved but the real challenge and best achievement is getting a vote from the advertiser! It just makes me feel like getting a pat on the back for doing a good job.

So once again, a BIG THANK YOU to you, kind advertisers (especially the most recent ones) who gave me votes *muah*

Fun Coloring Pages

Remember the fun we had as a child doing lots of coloring on papers and books? How we saved every penny to buy that coloring book we longed for? Well, times sure have changed. These days our children get to do it online and best of all, it’s absolutely free of charge too! No mess and no more having to spend money buying crayons, color pencils, paper and so on.

These Coloring Pages are a must to try out. It caters more for teenage girls but if you are young at heart, you might find it enjoyable too. There are a good selection of images with black and white outlines. You then get to fill in the colors from a color palette.

The best part is that you may upload your very own drawn pen and ink pictures provided you have outlined it properly, else it may not work as good. Once uploaded, you could share the URL of the image to your friends to color your very own creation! Isn’t that so much fun? There is more - you could even save the colored image by registering for a free account.

Oh how I wish such a thing was available in my teenage years! But it’s never too late to join the fun.

Council Collection

Council Collection
June 9, 2007

Phew! Finally managed to rid our double bed ensemble base, fold up steel single bed frame, a two seater second hand sofa which we have had for 7 years and stainless steel step rubbish bin. However, because it was raining last night and forecasted to rain today also, we thought we'd only put out the CRT Monitor and huge Sony TV box this morning before hubs went to work but by the time hubs opened the garage door at about 6.00am this morning, the Council truck had already picked up the stuff we left last night and left.

But that's okay, we get 12 free Council pick ups for white goods and other large items a year. We've got 11 more left, I don't think we have got that many big items to get rid of for the rest of the year *LOL* We'll just call for another pick up when the weather is forecasted to be sunny for a week at least.

I must say, the Council is efficient in this aspect. We booked the pick up via its website and they rang back a day or two after, to confirm the pick up date the next week. But then again, shouldn't they be efficient since we pay staggering Council fees per quarter? hehehe. That's food for thought!

Advolcano.com

Own a business or wish to gain more exposure via internet advertising on your products, ideas, services, website or blog? An online ad network such as advolcano.com could assist in getting the word around and generate publicity for you. Advertisers may purchase on a fixed-rate basis from their self-serve marketplace. By advertising with Advolcano.com, you get 100% transparency, avoid cost per click fraud, per site advertising and full service. See full details here.

Good news for publishers too, Advolcano.com is an online text advertising network where publishers may price their own ads and have total control over their ad design. There is nothing to lose and as a publisher, Advolcano.com has certainly got my interest going.

Queen's Birthday

Queen's Birthday
June 8, 2007

My, my, it almost slipped my mind that this weekend is a long weekend ie Queen's Birthday on Monday, 11 June - being a public holiday. Not sure what hub's spontaneous plans would be. Maybe try to hurry up finishing the edgings so that we could get the lawn in before the horrible weeds start growing again. We've spent close to AU$200 just for weed killers and not to mention the hours put in to dig them out!

Our back fence was up since yesterday, YAHOOOOO! We finally feel that the house is now complete. Feels so nice to have some privacy and the backyard finally feels like ours and ours alone!

Hubs is really excited about getting some plants and pots in, aiyaya, more excited than me.

Father's Day Gifts

Father's Day is just around the corner and isn't it time we make an effort in our busy schedules to remember and appreciate our Fathers? True, one may show appreciation at any time, 365 days a year but the big question is, do we really do anything special?. It is nice that a day is specifically for remembering Fathers all over the world. It gives those of us who are terribly busy (or lazy for some, oops!) a chance to make it up for the lack of affection and appreciation shown the whole year round. So it's nice to just go out there and get Daddy a special gift. If you have little children, it is always fun to start them young by letting them participate in buying a gift or doing something special for their Daddy.

But wait a minute, can't decide what to get? How about Neckties? They make excellent gifts and can’t go wrong! Every man would need to wear a tie occasionally, if not daily. Moreover modern Fathers these days tend to be trendy, there are so many to pick from, especially from the Belisi ties range. Belisi’s beautiful Italian necktie and pocket square are popular items. Take advantage of Belisi’s offer of free shipping on each Father’s Day purchase at Belisi.com

Buying from Belisi also means supporting some charitable organisations as Belisi Fashions keeps its great principle to give back to the less fortunate. 10% of the company’s profits are donated to the needy through their “Belisi Luxury Meaning” program. I think that is a very honourable act by a huge, reputable company. Some of the charities include Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, American Heart Association, and 1-800-Save-A-Pet.com.

One thing that distinguishes Belisi Fashions from other brands is that it also has an online community where customers are treated as “insiders” than just mere order numbers. It means being given priviledges like free shipping and gift.

Finding the Right Gift for Father’s Day May Not Be as Hard as You Think

Give a Gift Dad Will Remember…Luxurious, Stylish, and Thoughtful

PALM BEACH , FLORIDA– (MAY 15, 2007) --Okay, so Father’s Day is right around the corner. Wondering what to get Dad? Neckties are often times considered the “stand-by” gift for guys but not anymore. More and more Dads are putting their best fashion foot forward with colorful neckties, as they know this simple accessory can make or break an outfit. Whether you are looking for the red power tie or sophisticated yet casual, there is a tie for every occasion. Give Dad a gift he will remember, something he can wear and treasure for years to come. Dad will feel extra special this year with a beautiful Italian necktie or pocket square from Belisi. With each Father’s Day purchase at Belisi, customers will receive free shipping with their orders. To qualify for free shipping, customers should visit Belisi.com.

Belisi ties are made with more silk per inch than the average tie, which creates a fuller necktie knot, the hallmark of true luxury silk neckties. They come in a variety of colors and styles, so it’s easy to select a thoughtful gift that any father would appreciate.

Pocket squares, which are making a big comeback, also make excellent Father's Day gifts. Belisi pocket squares are oversized, made with a lavish thick silk and hand-rolled on the border. So if you want to give a unique gift for that special guy in your life, a pocket square fits the bill. Another reason ties are still a fresh gift idea is that men can wear ties that accessorize with their partner’s silk scarf, which she can wear tied around her neck or draped around her shoulders as a shawl, tied on her wrist, worn as a belt or handbag accessory or in her hair (a very hot trend right now).

Belisi Fashions remains steadfast in giving back to those less fortunate. Through the “Belisi Luxury with Meaning” program a minimum of 10 percent of the company’s pre-tax profits are donated to those in need. Keeping in-line with Belisi’s mission to create a community within a community, customers decide which charity to make their contribution. Some of the charities include: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, American Heart Association, and 1-800-Save-A-Pet.com.

Belisi was built on the philosophy that a tie or a scarf is more than an article of clothing—it completes your look. “There are plenty of Web sites where you can buy accessories but few where you feel like you’re a part of a fashion community,” affirms Peter Belisi of Belisi Fashions.

The Belisi brand is flourishing, and anticipates the release of its new luxury handbag collection in Fall ’07. As with all Belisi products, the handbag collection will feature extraordinary detailing including real gold hardware, soft treated Italian leather and brushed fabrics, plus many other exclusive features only available through www.Belisi.com.

About Belisi.com

Belisi.com is an online community where customers are “Insiders” instead of order numbers. Being an “Insider” means access to special privileges including free shipping, gift wrap on all orders and a designated place on the Belisi Insider’s Advisory Board. Belisi Insiders’ opinions are more than thoughts expressed in cyber space. Peter Belisi embraces each comment, suggestion or question and responds to his clients personally. Belisi’s fashion blogs offer up-to-the-minute insight from fashion, beauty and lifestyle experts. Find out more by visiting: www.TheDivasDreams.com for women and www.SharpByDesignblog.com for men. Belisi also has a beauty blog, www.BeautifulMeblog.com, which keeps customers “in the know” about all things related to beauty—inside and out.

About Belisi Fashions

The Belisi brand is the brainchild of Peter Belisi, whose lifelong aspirations were to fuse the luxury and prestige of Palm Beach with Italian sophistication. Belisi embodies the spirit of true entrepreneurship with a passion for the best of everything, which is evident in the quality products produced. Each dramatic detail in a Belisi tie, pocket square and scarf represents Belisi’s unwavering commitment to creating fashion products that embody timeless sophistication and enduring beauty.


# # #
Belisi Press Contact:
Amy Covington
amycovington@belisi.com
800.434.1962


Agency Contact:
Cher Murphy
cm@newsworthystories.com
703.323.5976

Stocktake Sale

Stocktake Sale
June 7, 2007

Most major retailers have begun their annual stocktake sale! I didn't even realize it's June already until I heard of the stocktake sale adverts on radio! I remember vividly how me, hubs together with our little 15 day old bubba went around shopping for much needed furniture and goods. It was tough, being winter and bubba was so young.

As if shopping alone wasn't tough already, bubba and me also had to be around to "supervise" the various contractors coming in and out of our house to fix, install or deliver something after the first month. Hubs couldn't take any more days off from work as he had already taken 4 weeks prior, to stay home to look after me and bubba.

It was madness! We managed to pull through somehow! It makes me appreciate the more relaxed year we have now.

We do still need to buy some things such as floor lamps but at least there is no rush this time and we'll be able to enjoy the shopping more.

Online Directory

Whether you have just started a small business or simply looking for more information about Education or Real Estate, you can browse for everything you need at Atlist.org, a leading Online directory where consumers are given the ability to not only read but also write reviews about any companies they have dealt with. This is great in helping other potential would be consumers, to make their purchase decisions.

When I shop or look for places to eat, real estate or education, I do prefer to read other people’s comments on the particular subject that I was searching for.

House 4 Rent

House 4 Rent
June 5, 2007

My suspicions were right! The back neighbour's house is up for rent at AU$495/week! Usually if it is owner occupied, they'd move in before laying the lawn, etc but this one has everything done first.

This is the back view of their house, looking from our backyard. Won't be able to see this view very soon as the fence will be up right across. Hmm I hope whoever rents it won't be noisy people and no constantly barking dogs please.

Auto Loans

Auto Loans
June 5, 2007

It is too common for people these days for being unable to service their loans especially credit card debts. Once you are blacklisted for failure to pay off your debt, it is difficult to obtain any other loans. We have had friends who were in that situation. One of them wanted to purchase a much needed car for his new job and he had to look into bad credit auto loans which are designed for those who fail to qualify to borrow from traditional lending institutions.

I would say, if one is totally out of wits end trying to put their finances back onto track, one might wish to take the first step towards credit repair.

Managing personal finances or loans is not always easy. A good start would be to do some reading about it. Creditloan.com is a great site with a comprehensive guide to the different kinds of loans in the market today.

Garden Edging Part 2

Garden Edging Part 2
June 5, 2007

My man looking glam doing more garden edging. He spent 4 hours for that stretch alone. The end result was excellent and I am very proud of him despite being unsure in the beginning because of the way he calculated every tiny detail (measurement, number of bricks, how deep to dig, etc, etc) before doing anything.

Way to go, hubs! Bigger edging works ahead *LOL*

And the fence is currently being done today - the frames are up already.

Meade MySKY

As a kid, I have always marvelled at the sky especially night time. I remember back then when I was about 7-12 years old, my brothers would often look at the moon with a pair of binoculars because we could not afford a telescope! Of course nowadays, you could get very powerful binoculars compared to my childhood days!

But now that I have got a little daughter myself, I would like her to be able to enjoy the beautiful night skies with proper equipment such as the newest and coolest Meade mySky Personal Planetarium Telescope!

It is an amazing interactive, hand held, point-shoot-and-identify multimedia guide through our universe. It has a full color LCD screen too – no more straining our eyes through the scopes and the whole family can enjoy viewing the moon, stars and planets at the same time! Kids don’t have to fight over who gets the next turn.

MySKY would make excellent gift ideas to anyone, young and old, who is into gadgets or appreciates the beauty of night sky. Christmas is not too far away, shop early to avoid the mad rush - there are many other latest gadgets at OpticsPlanet.com to choose from such as spotting scopes, celestron and microscopes just to name a few.

It guarantees the lowest prices and best of all, free UPS shipping for orders above $29.95. I always love FREE shipping! Time to select your Christmas gift early, or add it to your Christmas wishlist!

Credit: Images Copyright (c) OpticsPlanet

Edging update

Edging Update
June 4, 2007

Here is Kiwi G's first edging DIY project - 5 pavers to kick off with. Now he's all fired up to do the long edging around the house. Wish him all the best and I hope it will turn out to be a good job because the cost is not gonna be cheap. Each paver is 85 cents and we would need a few hundred of them. Add in the cost of cement and sand too.

I don't know when or how he will find the time to do this project.The fence either goes up today or next Monday, can't wait!!

Go Boating

The first thing that comes to my mind being in Sydney are the private yachts and boats at every bay especially the famous harbour bridge. I have always wondered what it would be like to be in one. Now, wouldn't we all wish we own a boat and go sailing past Sydney Harbour Bridge every weekend?

I am sure sailing enthusiasts would want to do their best to maintain their private boats with good quality boat covers. There are so many types of boat covers in the market and it can be a little confusing for new boat owners. I guess the first thing in mind would probably be canvas. But bear in mind, depending on the boat shape and size, one might need to go a little extra like getting a custom made boat cover.

Phew, sounds like too many choices and unsure of what to get still? Don’t worry, BoatCoversAdvice.com has already done the hard work for you. The website explains the different types of boat covers and a helpful page on what features you should be opting for.

Power Bill

Power Bill
June 1, 2007

Yup Power Bill, not Power Ball lah, hehe. Alright, another utility bill The electricity bill for the 3 month period 14/2/07 - 15/5/07 is AU$217.53

Actually I am unsure whether our utility bills are high or low as we have no one to compare with. Unless we know our neighbours very well, I don't think they would appreciate us asking how much their bills come up to, hehehe.

I have started turning on the heat from the reverse cycle ducted air each morning but only for about 40 minutes at max. It's way too cold in the early mornings at 5.30am onwards and I have to play with my Bee Bee during that time till she naps at around 8.30am to 9.00am

Encyclocentral

Encyclocentral
June 1, 2007

When I did a search on Recreation & Sports on Encyclocentral.com, some very interesting links and facts came up. It tells you almost anything not just how a game is played but businesses and venues that relate to recreation and sports too.

Being a huge fan of food, it is only natural that I clicked onto the Food & Drinks category of the website. It is interesting to see a little history of how Starbucks was first established. Then I clicked onto the Family category and voila, Flinstones was the first listed, followed by bakeries, HP printer, etc.

It is a rather interesting encyclopedia indeed.

Mini Edging

Mini Edging
June 1, 2007

Kiwi G finally got around to doing the short edging two days ago. Well, night actually because the day gets dark rather early now (from 5.30pm). I bet it must have been the first time ever he had cemented pavers in his life! Not a bad job I must say but then again it was just 5 pavers! The down side is that it required on whole bag of 10kg ready mix concrete/cement from Bunnings. He'll have to get brave and buy sand and cement separately to mix it on our own - it's cheaper that way.

Let's Learn Italian

Living in Australia, we meet many people, friends as well as relatives of Italian descend. It would be awesome if we could someday learn the language too, especially in Italian language schools in Italy itself!

I know there are people who might be very interested in taking up Italian language courses in Italy. I would say, go for it. What better way than to learn and visit a beautiful country at the same time.

Do check out this language school that offers Italian courses in Italy. The prices are competitive and the classes are conducted in a small group made up of an average of 6 students so that you get the best attention and teachings. They also assist in getting student visa for long term language course students as well as provide accommodation service.

Gas Bill

Gas Bill
May 31, 2007

Previously I mentioned about our hefty water bill. Now here comes the gas bill! Again, the standard compulsory supply fee costs double our actual usage amount for the 3 month period of 20/2/07 - 24/5/07.

Actual gas used - AU$19.38

Compulsory supply fee - AU$40

Gas is used for hot water (shower & taps) and the cooktop. It is always the compulsory charges that pushes up the amount ... grrrr

Photo of the bill to follow later.

Mint Credit Card

Everyday, people are either looking to apply for a credit card or to switch to one that charges lower rates. If you are an Australian or a New Zealander who are or will be doing your big Overseas Working Holiday Experience in the UK, it would be best to apply for a local uk credit card. This would certainly save you a lot from international purchase surcharge if you were to use credit cards issued from Australia or New Zealand while working or living in the UK.

Check out Mint Credit Cards amazing introductory offer and they've recently lowered their typical APR. One of the great features I find very useful is the free online account management where you can download statements and receive email and text alerts. The full list of features and benefits can be viewed online at its website.

Most important of all, there is NO ANNUAL FEE!

Pale or Tan

Pale or Tan
May 30, 2007

Just a random thought that's always been on my mind. Before I came to Australia, I was certainly brought up in a culture where being as pale as possible is considered fair. Tons of beauty creams from major brands alike such as Shiseido, Kanebo, etc (what's with Japanese wanting to look as white as snow?) claim to assist in skin lightening. I can understand if people with darker skin would like to have fairer skin but most Chinese people still aim for the white as snow skin tone. I remember many of my Chinese friends and colleagues would go to great lengths to shield themselves from the sun, even their arms. The sun is like an enemy to them. Can't blame them, adverts in mags, TV, everywhere in Asia seem to promote "pale skin is beautiful".

Well in a way, I am glad in this part of the world, Australia and in most part of Western countries, it is the exact opposite. The browner it is, the more beautiful and healthy looking you are. However, many would go to the extreme to get fake tans!

I am embarassed to say that I am on the pales side, not because I use any skin lightening cream (I don't even use any beauty cream, ack!) but because I haven't been doing much outdoor activities for yonks! Hopefully all that will change very soon!

I used to be very brown during my teenage years and I just went pale when I reached adulthood, I guess leaving the home early morning before the sun rise and getting home late evening after the sun set didn't give me a chance to soak up some sun.

Mortgage Headache

We have never taken up a loan in Australia until we started building or first home. Prior to that it was a lot of headache trying to understand the different kinds of loans offered by banks and lenders alike. Being first timers, we were absolutely dumbfounded with the choices.

After careful consideration and brainstorming sessions with our lender, we finally decided that a home equity loan was the most suitable one for us at the time. We chosed this type of loan as it allows us to use the equity we have built up in our home as it grows over time. It would come in handy should we need the cash to help pay for university fees or perhaps to purchase an investment property.

If you already own a home and would like to upgrade to a larger home (who doesn’t?) but feel like being on a merry-go-round all over again, undecided and getting confused with which types of mortgage best suits your needs, try reading some handy information from this article.

With the high cost of living these days, chalking up debts on credit cards is quite inevitable for most people. A home equity loan may be used for debt consolidation such as this. The equity built up can help reduce the outstanding debts on credit cards - we all know how high the interests for credit cards are! Here is a good article that fully explains how a home equity loan could help.

Stella McCartney Label

Stella McCartney Label
May 28, 2007

I wrote about the Target buying frenzy when Stella McCartney launched her new designer wear collection Australia wide. People were lining up outside Target stores before opening hours just to grab their share of the designer's clothings. People bought the clothes in bags and piles. I just could not understand the frenzy.

I did try to look at the range at Target but it was not displayed prominently - I couldn't find it, or perhaps all have been sold out at the time. I did not bother checking them out when I shopped at Target many times after that.

Now several months down the road and guess what? Target Australia is having a clearance sale on Stella McCartney's label as they simply would not sell - actually I would not be surprised. It seems that Target Australia is wanting to rid the stock to make way for a new Aussie designer label. Full article from SMH could be read here. I wonder how those fashion trend followers who paid full price several months ago, feel. Will they try to get rid of them on eBay?

Fresh Start

Do you or your loved ones, suffer from drug addiction and has the thought of having to go through long treatment programs been the reason for hesitation in seeking help?

Does a 28 day program sound good to you? If so, perhaps one could consider participating in the drug rehab program in Michigan. Please visit their website for more details and a photo of the center. There is an online form and toll free number to call if you have any question or doubt.

Addiction, especially drugs, negatively affects our life. You deserve to give yourself a fresh start and a chance towards recovery.


Credit: Image copyright (c) stopyouraddiction.com

MillionHAIR Club

MillionHAIR Club
May 27, 2007

The "Million Dollar Median House Price" suburbs as SMH puts it; Here is a map and list of the million dollar suburbs (all of hubs' cousins live there and my Auntie too ... but how come we don't?? haha).

One thing for sure when you drive around the million dollar suburbs, you could feel the difference in atmosphere and the people too. I just don't know how to describe it. The segregation between the rich and the poor is quite obvious in Sydney.

Anyway we all met up at a park - beautiful, lots of people and it's a beach too. Didn't take many photos as we were busy catching up with the cousins. Last thing I want is to be looking like a "jakun" taking photos of the surroundings when we were supposed to be catching up. I now feel more accepted into the millionaire club except of course we're not millionaires but I guess being millionHAIRS count?? hahaha!

Seriously, I think Phoebe has changed their perception of me. Phoebe is the youngest among the six cousin kiddos there between the ages of 5 - 11. She'll be able to run around and join them when she is older. She had so much fun there watching the kids and oggling at other older children's toys and "walking" (holding onto my hand of course) around the field. So it was all good !

Black Diamond

“Diamonds” – the word itself is so elegant and beautiful. We all know that the color black means sophistication and formality when it comes to fashion. Now we can have Black Diamond jewelry to add to the elegance of evening wear or simply just for a fresh change from the usual white diamonds. Black diamond jewelry is now the hottest thing among celebrities.

Is your wedding coming real soon and you want that something extra special for Wedding Rings? Why not try Black Diamond Jewelry instead? They are sure to make heads turn plus you will look and feel like a million dollars.

Not sure what to get for your daughter or grand child? Diamond Pendants could never go wrong on a girl especially alphabet and heart shaped ones. Little girls or young ladies just love them!

Now if you are looking for a beautiful and elegant gift for your mom or grandma, Diamond Studs earrings would make a great gift! Moms and Grandmas would always love that extra bit of glow to their faces.


Husbands and boyfriends, just remember you do not need any special occasion to get your loved ones Black Diamond Rings.

Every woman deserves to look and feel a million dollars. Afterall ...

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”

Credit: Elegant, beautiful jewelry images Copyright (c) My Solitaire

Last Minute Daddy

Last minute Daddy
May 26, 2007

Aiyaya, Daddy loves to do things at the last possible second! We are going out today and he wants to wash the car this morning of ALL days! I asked why does he want to tire himself out knowing that our day will be hectic and full? As usual, he would say "Why not?". Like the Chinese saying goes, "One only starts digging a hole when one needs to do a #2"! This habit of his irked me a lot in our early marriage days but I have learned to live with it. Many last minute things that he could have planned and did days ahead but I won't list them here for now ... give him some face first, haha!

Florida Agriculture

Florida Agriculture
May 26, 2007

We all love food but do you know that Florida Agriculture is a $87 billion industry providing food to the entire globe?. That is a humongous amount worth of food!

Fresh From Florida, markets Florida Agriculture all over the world, showing the importance and impact of Florida's Farmers. So come on, let us Rev It Up with Fresh from Florida by taking a moment to simply view this very brief (I really mean it), catchy video with beautiful farming backgrounds.

Bedroom Furniture

Bedroom Furniture
May 26, 2007

For 6 long years we did not purchase any bedside table and used either an empty carton box or a folding chair as side tables *LOL*

We only bought a set of tallboy + 2 bedside tables several months ago. Photos below are what I used for lining the drawers. Instead of buying expensive paper drawer liners (beautiful, fragrant but so expensive - about AU$3-5 per 4 small pieces), I bought vinyl by the metre from Bunningswarehouse.com.au - can't remember how much, probably around AU$10 for 1.5 metre - that was all I needed. I figured vinyl is definitely more lasting than paper drawer liners! Perfect for a cheapskate like me.

Next to buy are two floor lamps to be placed at each corner near the side tables. We opted for floor lamps because if we place table lamps onto the side tables, there will not be much space left on the surface to place our junk.

Window Blinds

I remember when we first moved into our new home back in March last year, we did not have any blinds installed. We used cheap black garbage bags (87 cents per pack of 4) from Coles Supermarket and stuck them on all windows and glass sliding doors. It was only several months later that we looked around for several types of blinds but fell in love with wooden blinds!.

Why wooden blinds? Because we have always admired other houses that have them installed. That wooden look gives a kind of natural feel and softens the home’s decor. It also goes well with our wooden look tallboy, bedside tables and dining table.

If anyone is looking to redecorate or just moved in to a new home, have a browse at the vast range of blinds offered by Terry’s Fabrics where you could get terrific choice and terrific value.