The Spring Experience

Nice attraction on ground floor (water flowing effect from ceiling to pool)

The crowd is getting heavier

Spring flower trees beautified the whole shopping mall

Nice lamp pieces hanging from the ceiling

Church choir contributing to opening of The Spring

Felt refresh woke up on a holiday yesterday. Just in the mood for shopping. I was mumbling to myself that I need to shop for little gal’s CNY clothes before I pre-occupied with other CNY preparation (see my list for coming CNY). I bought a couple of dresses and tops last year (yes, I am early bird as I buy when I saw one that I like, and I hate pushing and compete with the crowds in shopping centre when the festival is getting nearer).

Anyway I SMSed my sis, suggest her to check out the new shopping mall! The Spring! Very near to my parents’ house, so I picked her up on the way. We were caught in a traffic jam on the way to the shopping mall, which is very Kuching-like culture. Those “kiasu” crowds were even earlier than us! Hahahah! And that make us 1 of those kiasu crowds too.

We managed to park our car at a proper space although it is not a designated parking space! As long as it didn’t block other traffic and cars in the basement car park, it is fine to us! By the way, the parking was full, took us quite a while to find a space to park. By the time we went into the shopping mall around 1030am, there were huge crowds in there! Gosh! What time those people here in the morning??

I feel I was in one of those shopping mall in KL and Selangor. That is what Kuching residents have been deprived of for so many years! Now I can save flight and time flying to West Malaysia just to do my shopping list during those Mega Sales month! LOL.

The place was packed with crowds, we didn’t really finish walking around the centre. Bringing little gal with us was a mistake, as she was very restless and kept asking her mum and aunty to carry her. If I didn’t bring her, I think I will shop till I drop! Blame on her dad that want to sleep and sleep the holiday away. Cant blame him, he has been playing computer games called “Empire Earth” the night before till 5 something in the morning.

Anyway, I manage to buy little gal some Power Puff Girl clothes at The Parkson. RM10 each for her blouse, I bought 2 of them. Another dress for RM50.90. It looks like it can be a blouse too. Maybe a dress for little gal now, and when she is bigger, she can wear it as a blouse! *wink*

We left the shopping mall around 1130am. I was not satisfy since I didn’t get anything for myself, so I suggest to my sis to go to those boutiques located near by. Hahahah! Been very persistent to get something for myself yesterday, I found a nice white skirt! Yes, to match my turquoise colour blouse! Still need to hunt for jeans and pants the next round! Hahahah! My shopping spree not ended yet, just starting to warm up!

First award for me!

Thanks Hye for giving me this award! My first award as a blogger, isnt it fantastic? Look like a good year for me so far this year!! This award encourages me even more to blog and write interesting posts on it!

It is really an honour to receive this award from a fellow blogger, she has been very sweet to me as I am still new to blogging world. Just started less than 2 months ago. So, her passing me such award really meaningful to me and act as a motivation to strive more.

I would like to hand this award over to the following bloggers who have achieved more than me. They have been my inspiration for starting a blog in first place:

1. Cooking momster
2. Crumb in life
3. Wokking mum
4. Oooh La La
5. Pearly Love

Congratulations!

Blog For Money

I have been blogging for 1 month plus and have met new friends online. They are all amazing bloggers and their blogs are simply awesome. Been avid bloggers, not only they have interesting blogs, they have been able to earn extra income by blogging too. One of the online services that provide such opportunities to fellow bloggers to get paid for blogging is Smorty.

Smorty is an online service that act as messenger channel between advertisers and bloggers. Advertisers are able to promote their products and services online to bloggers. Blog advertising has become a useful tool in reaching millions of thousands of online users with growing use of internet services. Simply use the services of Smorty and have millions of bloggers to help you in advertise your products and services on your behalf.

As for bloggers, you are free to write your own comment and opinion on their products and services! Good thing is you get paid to blog!! If advertisers like your posts, they will pay you for blogging about them! Isnt it fantastic?

So what are you waiting for! Register yourself either as advertiser or blogger with Smorty today. A good way for advertisers to Advertise on blogs and bloggers to blog for money. I have register mine, how about you?

Online Casino

When think of casino or gambling, a typical Malaysian would think of Genting Resort with its world class casino! With hundred over cards, slots, roulettes etc to choose from, you would indulge in long hours and even days of spending time on the casino tables and trying luck to win some cash!

Why not have a comfort of your home by playing online casino? Save trouble of going to casino and no more pushing with the crowds on the betting tablez. Instead of you going to a casino, the casino is coming to you, just with one click. Simply log into Pro360.com and choose more than 3000 games to play within their 75 casinos. Rushmore casino, slots plus, Sun Palace Casino are some of the top reviewed casinos online. Check out on other players' review on those 75 online casinos.

What are you waiting for? Grab this opporunity and log in now. Enjoy the feeling of online casino in the comfort of your home today.

Are You a Shopaholic?

How can you tell you have a spending addiction? With lots of promotions, bargains and sales, you would not be able to resist the temptation of spending some of your hard-earned money. There is nothing wrong with little spending, unless it has gone out of control. If you have habits of buying and don’t care of what you buy, there is a problem there!

The checklist of Addiction
1. Shopping or spending money as result of feeling disappointed, angry or scared
2. Shopping or spending habits cause some emotional distress
3. Having argument with others about one’s shopping or spending habits
4. Feeling lost without credit cards
5. Buying items on credit that would not be bought with cash
6. Feeling guilty, ashamed, embarrassed or confused after shopping or spending money
7. Lying to others about purchase made or how much money was spent
8. Thinking excessively about money
9. Spending too much time juggling accounts or bills to accommodate spending

Most people have no idea they have an addiction problem until it is too late. They always in a constant of denial until the problem escalate to catastrophic proportions. Bankruptcies are very common among over spenders. Problems drive people to all kind of extreme behaviors and crimes. A shopping addiction can shatter lives!

Guidelines for Wise Spending
1. Do not buy on impulse. Also make a list when you go shopping
2. Always compare prices and alternatives before purchase
3. Learn to read and understand all advertisements.
4. Read all labels and product literature carefully
5. Go shopping alone, especially for household and grocery items. Having someone with you will influence your purchasing decisions.
6. Never expect something for nothing, somehow you will pay for it. Nothing is FREE!
7. Wait for special sales – check when the sales date would be
8. Maintain good records. Keep receipts, and make reminders about cash spending
9. Lastly, list down your monthly budget, i.e. allocation of money on household, grocery, personal and emergency items. That way you would know when you are over-spending.

Be responsible parents

I read an article titled “Mums and dads advised to take parenting seriously” on The Star Tuesday 8 January 2008 issue. It said that parents should not outsource the duty of raising children to third parties as the move could result in lack of attention and children may fall prey to social ills. Parents should not rely on others such as schools to educate their children.

There is no right or wrong way on parenting. Everyone has different mindset on how to raise their children. For me, I always believe in raising children with perseverance and patience.

There are few points that I would like to share with you. First, I agree that it is our responsibility as parents to educate and teach our children on the relevant and right values in becoming responsible persons themselves. Schools act as “guardian” and “partial parent” as teachers and principals cannot simply put their 100% attention on each and every student under their guidance.

Secondly as responsible parents, we should know the whereabouts of our children. Know what they do, what they going to do, and where they are. Learn and be sensitive to their needs and wants. It is our responsibility to be “guardian” after school hours. Don’t you think so? We wouldn’t want anything happen to our children with increase in crime on children in previous year isn’t it?

I am fortunate (for now) as my little gal is still small. She has a wonderful babysister that teach her well. I may not need to worry too much for time being before she starts schooling. Not to say I am going to push the whole raising issue to schools and babysister (in my case), as I believe in close bond between parents and children starting from their younger ages.

Thirdly, one of the reasons why parents are becoming more reliable on schools and private tuitions due to longer working hours and other life commitment. Yes, our education system may not be perfect and the best, but there are still rooms for improvement. A lot of extra classes and curriculum activities have been organized after classes, in building additional skills and getting students to participate actively in outdoor activities. With such activities and parents busy go about their chores, children is seeing less of their parents and not that attach to them. However I think this is case-to-case basis. Some children tend to be more attached to their parents even they didn’t seeing them often. Family bond and quality family time play big part here.

Once a colleague commented on lack of time to be with her children. She felt guilty of not spending enough time with them due to work commitment. However on weekend, she will bring her children to family outings and spending as much time with them. That was many years ago, and her children are now in secondary schools. Thank god that both children are very independent, mature and growing up to be responsible teenagers.

Going back to the issue of parents should take parenting issue seriously. As you see, it is a rather difficult decision for parents on not to rely on other to educate their children. I believe every rational parent would love to teach and nurture their children under their care without relying too much on other. However, with many commitments in life, parents simply have no choice but to place their trust on other institution, such as schools and tuitions to teach them instead. Nevertheless, the main responsibility still rest on the shoulder of parents. Unless one parent is a SAH (Stay-at-home) parent, the above would not be an issue afterall.

Countdown to Year of Rat 2008

1 more month to go before we say goodbye to Year of Pig and usher the Year of Rat. I would not talk about my luck, wealth, health or fortune telling with you, as I believe you going or already have received bunches of forwarded emails on the Chinese New Year’s fortune. Or maybe you have bought a fortune book end of last year? My hubby and his sister are so into those things and you will see them reading all those details under their birth year. LOL! I thought your luck and fortune are in your hand?? If just read but do nothing about it, I don’t believe money will fall down right in front of you from the sky, right?

Alright, like I was saying earlier, I am not going to talk about those fortunes with you. I was just mumbling to myself today how fast time goes, and Chinese New Year is a month away. This will be first year celebrating with darling hubby and little gal away from home (we've been celebrating CNY for past 3 years in Kapit with his family), it will be my wifely duty to prepare goodies, cakes, food supplies, and cleaning and decorating the house this year!! We not going back this year, but my brother and sister-in-law will be going back to celebrate with my parents-in-law.

I have never done all those chores all by myself. Not that I never order cakes and cookies when I were staying with my parents last time. Not that I don’t know how to clean the tv cabinet, mop the floor or do shopping in the wet market. This year would be different, as I have to get ready all by myself! *wink* What are husbands for? If not to share work and help us out, right? So, I am going to nag him to tug along in getting ready for our 1st CNY together away from our families!

Here are my lists in preparation for CNY:

1. New clothes for myself, hubby and little gal. A good excuse to spend some money on new clothing and update my wardrobe without hubby nagging on my overspending habit. Little gal need to get new clothes too as she is growing very tall now! LOL

2. Stock up food supplies enough for a week – rice, chicken, pork, vegetables (those can be stored longer i.e. cabbages, carrots, celery); eggs, fish; cooking oil and other cooking ingredients. I am planning to cook this year, not going out dining as prices can be unreasonably high during the holidays.

3. Buying mandarin oranges, cookies (we have pre-ordered 6 packs of 100 pieces each), cakes (maybe I will try to make Jen’s place no-bake cheesecake this year), soft drinks (that would include beers!! *Laugh*)

4. Buying some fireworks. Little gal would be excited I am sure as she never play with fireworks before! So, this is her first time.

5. Cleaning - getting a cleaning lady to come over to our house on weekend prior to CNY to have a thorough cleaning of our house. RM35 for whole house! Not bad huh? At least when I do cleaning on CNY Eve, it would not be that tedious.

6. Decorating the house – I am thinking of buying those spiral bamboos as I have a tall vase empty at home. As for the other decoration, I shall leave it to hubby as he is good with choosing them.


Do I miss anything out? Hmm….

On second thought, not to trouble ourselves too much, maybe we are not going to have any open house! Maybe comfortably hide away in my parents’ house and pretend we do not invite anyone to our house! Or maybe a semi-open house? Hahahah!

Remark: There are some shortages of cooking oil in the country! This situation is rather ironic as Malaysia is an oil manufacturer and exporter. So far Kuching has not been affected by the shortages, I haven’t see people rushing on buying those cooking oils off the shelves. Why all those sudden limitation and increase in pricing always happen when there is a festival coming??? I wonder why????