Carin's Cozy Corner

What Lies Ahead in 2008

2008-01-03T21:16:00.000-05:00

Wow! Can't believe it's 2008 already!!! Where did the time go? I can't help but feel that after turning 30, time just seems to go by faster and faster.

So, what lies ahead in 2008? Looks like it's going to be a year of many changes for me and my family. We're expecting our little girl in March. My parents are coming over to stay for a few months. Hubby returns from second deployment. And a possible move to Okinawa, Japan. I believe 2008 is going to be a challenging and yet exciting year for all of us.

Happy New Year Y'all!

To Spank Or Not To Spank...that is the question

2007-12-01T21:05:00.000-05:00

I've been tagged by Malaysian Mommy on a very important and yet controversial issue : Do I smack my child?

I do discipline my 2 year old boy occasionally with a smack. Especially when he's done something really bad that he knows he's not supposed to. But I never hit him in the face, head, chest, etc. It's always only on the butt, hand or thigh. And I never hit him hard. It's just to show him that what he did was not acceptable. And I never discipline out of anger because then I will know it will be hard to control how hard I hit him. And it's always THE LAST RESORT.

My little one is not one to reason at this tender age of 2...the Terrible Twos as most people put it. You can talk till the cows come home. He'll just laugh at you and think you're being silly. I've tried "time out" and it doesn't really work for him at this age. Other forms of punishment like taking away his toys, no TV time, etc bears little meaning to him at this point. My first option is always to re-direct and re-focus him on something else. That works most of the time. But sometimes he is stubborn and refuses to listen. That's when he gets the more severe punishment. And he knows to stop right away when that happens. He's young but not stupid. He has learnt quick. Most days now, I just have to give him "the look" that says "if you don't stop what you are doing right away, you're going to get a smack".

All kids need discipline...one way or another. And I think as a parent, you know what works best for your child. And the last thing I want to see happen is for my child to grow up to be a spoilt brat who is self-absorbed and thinks the world revolves around him. Not unlike a lot of kids I see here whose parents are completely lax.

Black Friday Shopping

2007-11-23T19:08:00.000-05:00

It's the day after Thanksgiving. My neighbour and I decided to brave the crowds, the chilly weather and the insane hours to go shopping on Black Friday....with kids in tow!! It's my first time doing this so I didn't really know what to expect. I must say it's quite an experience. Not as bad as I thought it would be.

We started off at 4am. Our first stop was Walmart. We got there around 4.30am. It was insane. There were already tons of people there. But no one is allowed to load their carts until 5.00am. You can see everyone crowding around the items they want to buy...especially the electronics. At 5.00am sharp, we started loading our carts. But after only 1 item and trying to maneuver our carts in a sea of people and carts in tiny aisles in complete gridlocks, we decided that we needed a new strategy to make this work for us. So, we moved our carts and kids to a not so busy aisle and we took turns shopping. We communicated through cell phones and we would help each other pick up items. Worked out perfectly! We got what we wanted and were out of the store in a little over an hour.

Another good stop we made was at Geoffrey's. We used the same strategy as their check-out lines were long. We just took turns shopping while one person waited in line to get to the check-out counter. Walmart and Geoffrey's had really good bargains. We also made stops at Target, JC Penney and Sears. But their prices were not as great.

All in all, a very fruitful shopping spree. We rewarded ourselves with lunch at International House of Pancakes. And the most surprising element, the kids were extremely well-behaved.

Beloved Keepsakes

2007-10-19T07:50:00.000-04:00

Today is a good day!! Hubby is coming home from 29 Palms after 6 weeks of intense pre-deployment training. These 6 weeks really sucked! I hardly got to hear from him. A few emails here and there and a couple of short phone calls. I missed him terribly!! I'm so excited!! I can't wait to see him again. It's hard knowing that he'll only be home for a week or so before he leaves on his 7-month deployment.

But we do what we can do keep our spirits up! I just ordered a yellow ribbon pin from Beloved Keepsakes today. They also have pink ribbon and white ribbon pins and photo bracelets. Check it out! I love their pins and can't wait to receive mine in the mail. A pin costs about $16 including shipping and handling. All you do is choose your pin and email them a pic. They ship within 48 hours of cleared payment. I know I'll be wearing mine proudly when my hubby is deployed to Iraq.

Beauty Tips

2007-10-17T05:48:00.000-04:00

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you'll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody.

Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

by Sam Levenson

Gmail : Behind The Scenes

2007-10-15T03:40:00.001-04:00

Ever wonder how you get emails?

Property Room - online auction site

2007-10-11T03:03:00.000-04:00

I just came across an interesting site. It's called Property Room. It's an online police auction site! This is where you can bid on stuff that were recovered from busts. They also have merchants selling stuff on it as well. A lot of the items are new. But it says you can be assured of authenticity and protection against fraud. They have some really nice stuff here with bids starting at $1 without reserve. You can get jewelry, electronics, paintings, cars, you name it!

If you had something stolen, you can register it on their Steal-It-Back registry and if there is a match it will be returned to you free of charge. You may also register the serial numbers of items you currently own in case they should ever be lost or stolen.

A New Home

2007-10-09T05:00:00.000-04:00

I have found our dog a wonderful new home! She lives in the country now where she has lots of room to run around and play. She really likes her new owner and her new home. She has lots of new friends to play with...the human and the furry kind. It only took her 3 days to adapt to her new environment.

I miss her but I know I'm doing the best thing for her and for us. I'm surprised our son hasn't asked for her much. He did once and I told him she's gone "bye bye" and he seemed satisfied with the answer and never asked me again.

As much as I miss her, it has really taken a load off my shoulder not to have to tend to her. It looks like we won't be getting another dog any time soon.

Goodbye Ginger...we miss you!!!!!

Decision Time

2007-10-01T15:43:00.002-04:00

I've finally made up my mind to see if I can find my dog a good home. I've been going back and forth for weeks. It has been one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make in a long, long time. I've had sleepless nights and bouts of crying and depression when thinking about it. I know it's not good for the baby and I needed to make a decision soon.

I've posted a note in the community to see if anyone is interested to adopt her. So far no real interest. But I will only let her go to a GOOD home. I have a list of questions to "grill" potential new owners. I want her to go to a good home, preferably with a fenced yet and maybe another dog or older kids to play with her. Let's see how it goes. Who can resist that face anyway??!!!

Missing My Marine!!

2007-09-30T16:19:00.000-04:00

I know this deployment is going to be a lot harder than the last one. I'm already missing him SO MUCH...and he's not even deployed yet. But it already feels like he is. Even though he's just away for training, I hardly get to hear from him. I get no emails and maybe two phone calls a week. It sucks!! I know it's also partly due to this pregnancy. I'm just an emotional wreck!! I've been keeping myself busy. So, that helps. Just praying for time to pass quickly and that all will go well with this deployment. I'm really not looking forward to it though. No mood to blog :( I'm still really torn over my dog issue as per my previous posting. I just want my Marine home!!

Unbelievable!!

2007-09-22T07:43:00.001-04:00

I didn't get to bed till 2.00am last night. Why? Because a stupid drunk driver crashed into my front yard!!!! I was just relaxing and watching re-runs on TV when I heard a very loud thud just after 11.00pm. I peeked out the window and I see a minivan crashed in my front yard!!!

Witnesses called 911. Within minutes, I had the sheriff's department, the fire department and the EMS in my driveway. It was like a scene out of the movies. The driver fled the scene but witnesses saw where he went and the police managed to get him.

Thank God all he hit was just the side of a tree and he tore up my yard and my neighbour's yard. It could have been much, much worse. Thank God we have a huge yard and a long driveway. Arrghh!!! Why do these things tend to happen a lot when hubby is not around??!!! I call this the Murphy's Law of Deployment!

I tried to get some pics but it was hard to do so in the dark. Here are some from last night and this morning :

Garden Railroad

2007-09-20T11:22:00.000-04:00

I want one!!!!! I think these are SO cool. But this looks like a SUPER expensive hobby. So, I'll just have to be satisfied with looking at pics. Imagine all these cool trains chugging along in your backyard full of miniature plants and buildings. Awesome!

So Rewarding!

2007-09-18T08:51:00.000-04:00

One of the things I really enjoy and find most rewarding is doing volunteer work. Being a stay-at-home mom, as busy as it is at home, it can sometimes get a little mundane and boring. Just being able to spend those few hours away from home each week to be in the "real world" makes such a big difference.

I'm currently volunteering for an organization called Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. I really enjoy volunteering here as they really value their volunteers. We receive regular training, opportunities to try new things and participate in lots of fun events and activities. As an incentive, we also get reimbursed for childcare and mileage so all we're volunteering is our time.

I'm also a mentor for a program called Adolescent Parenting Program working with teenage moms. It's hard being a mom...much less a single teen mom. I'm proud of my mentee for taking responsibility for her actions and is really trying her best to excel in her studies and care for her baby at the same time.

I think it's important to give back to society. And I certainly want to instill in my children to have such values and what better way than to lead by example. So many non-profit and volunteer organizations are always looking for people who can offer a few hours a week. Personally, I receive just as much, if not more, in return for the hours I put in. I strongly encourage anyone who's interested in volunteer work to check out some organizations in your area to see what is available and see how you can contribute.

In A Dilemma

2007-09-17T22:30:00.000-04:00

Hubby and I have been talking lately about whether to put our dog up for adoption or not. We've had her for over a year. And she's a great dog. But I feel like I can't give her the attention and care she requires. It's such a hard decision to make but I can't help but feel that she'll be happier in a home where there are other dogs for her to play with, with a nice fenced yard and one that will be able to give her the attention and care I think she deserves.

It's hard with hubby gone so much. Two deployments in one year! So unexpected. And it doesn't look like things are going to get any better. Plus, with another child on the way, I'm overwhelmed. As it it, I can't even find time and energy to exercise her. I know she's bored being at home so much. It doesn't help that we don't have a fenced yard for her to run around in. And she needs more exercise as she's a big dog. She's such an affectionate dog and seeks constant attention. But with so much going on, it's hard to give her that time and attention.

What to do? What to do? Such a dilemma.....

Jesus Painting

2007-09-13T09:48:00.001-04:00

Check out this video :

2007-09-13T07:14:00.001-04:00

Commemorating 9/11

2007-09-12T14:56:00.000-04:00

Every year around this time, we still see lots of documentaries, specials, emails, etc. about 9/11. But I can't help but feel that after so many years, maybe too much attention is still being drawn to it. I understand that it's important for us not to forget what happened that day and not to take things for granted. But do we really need to be reminded of this tragedy to such an extend year after year after year?

I'm sorry if I offend people with this posting but my heart really goes out to the survivors of 9/11. I was watching a special on Oprah on the children of 9/11. And so many of them said that this time of the year is especially difficult for them as they are constantly bombarded with all the stuff that goes on in the media about 9/11 and all the hurt and painful feelings resurface and the loss they feel for the loved ones they lost on that tragic day. I cannot imagine having to go through that year after year and to have these painful memories dug up each time.

How many more times can we see footage of the planes hitting the towers, or people falling from the buildings or the towers collapsing? Does it make it any easier each time we watch it? Does it help those who survived the tragedy to move on with their lives? I doubt it. But that's what's being shown year after year like it was today's "just-in" news. I believe there are many other more positive and constructive ways to commemorate 9/11. And it doesn't always have to be something with shock value or done on a big scale. For me, it was just taking a moment of silence and saying a little prayer.

This Is Where It Begins

2007-09-09T21:52:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day of my husband's 2-week pre-deployment leave. Wow! How time flies! We spent a lot of quiet, lazy days at home. We also had family come for visits...which are always fun.

Now, this is where it all starts. After this, he goes off for training for a month. Then, off to a 7-month deployment in Iraq. This will be his 2nd deployment.

There are 2 things that I'm sad about with this upcoming deployment. First of all, he's going to miss the birth of our second child. There are days where I think to myself "You can do this! Thousands of military wives have done this...so can you!"...and there are days I think "What am I going to do? How will I get through this?". Thank God I have a strong support system here....and faith that God will work things out for us.

Secondly, he's going to miss Christmas (and all the nearby holidays) with the family 2 years in a row. Last year, he was deployed over Christmas as well. Bummer, huh? But what to do? Such is the life of a military spouse.

15 Things I Do To Save Money

2007-09-02T20:29:00.001-04:00

I got tagged by Lynette. So, here goes....15 things I do to save money :

1. I set my thermostat at 78 degrees F or higher.

2. I close vents in rooms/areas we don't often use.

3. I follow the speed limit when I drive. I also combine trips to save fuel and I never leave my car running idle.

4. Eat home-cooked meals.

5. I use compact fluorescent light bulbs.

6. I also turn lights and fans off when I leave a room.

7. I unplug any electrical item I am not using.

8. I turn off my computer every night.

9. I recycle plastic bags, plastic containers, Ziploc bags, jars...anything that can be re-used.

10. I always ask myself "Is this a need or a want?" before I purchase anything.

11. I pay bills online and on time to avoid late fees and cost of a stamp.

12. Instead of spending money on all kinds of expensive cleaners, I make my own multi-purpose cleaning using vinegar, water and baking soda.

13. I buy store brands, second-hand clothes, toys and misc. items from thrift stores and yard sales.

14. I buy things off-season.

15. I run my dishwasher or washing machine only when it is full.

CoverGirl TruBlend Whipped Foundation

2007-08-31T06:59:00.000-04:00

I always seem to have so much trouble finding the right foundation color. It's always too light or too dark or just doesn't sit right with my skin color. Some would make my face breakout or messes up my make-up. But I like using whipped or liquid foundation as it give it a nice smooth look compared to powder foundation.

Recently, I decided to try CoverGirl Trublend Whipped Foundation. At first, I was a little overwhelmed when I saw that there were 15 different shades to choose from! But Covergirl claims that this foundation matches 97% of skin tones. So, I just chose the one that looks closest to my skin color.

I have been using this foundation for about 2 weeks now and absolutely love it! It leaves my skin looking flawless. I don't even have to use a concealer to cover up my blemishes as the foundation itself does the job pretty well. And it looks and feels good enough to go without powder but I still use a little to give it an even more flawless and matte look. My make-up stays on nice and I can go for hours without doing any touch-up.

I have combination skin and most foundations I've used usually result in breakouts but not this one. This foundation feels really light on my face but yet, it gives me the coverage I need. And you can't beat the price! Plus, there's alway some kind of sale. Definitely a 5-star rating product for me. Highly recommended.

Saving Money On Groceries

2007-08-25T03:33:00.000-04:00

Here are some tips that I use when it comes to grocery shopping. I'm sure there are more than what I have listed here. I would love to hear from some of you on how you save money on your groceries.

1. Make a shopping list. I'm such a compulsive shopper and the list helps in making sure I don't over-buy.

2. Never shop hungry. I tend to buy more when I'm hungry just because everything on the shelf looks so good!

3. Buy in bulk. I like buying in bulk for household items that we use on a regular basis like toilet paper, handsoap, etc. to get the extra savings. But the problem is...where am I going to store all these extra stuff I bought??!! So, I have two special closets just for my stockpiling.

4. Coupons. Don't buy something just because you have a coupon. I only use coupons for items I would normally buy regardless of whether I had a coupon or not like wipes, diapers, detergent, etc. I gave up coupon cliping as most of the items on the coupons are not what we usually eat/use around the house and most times, I only need one and not 3 of the items. Having to buy 3 of the same item just to save 25 cents or 50 cents...not worth it.

5. Shop alone if possible. I find that if I shop alone, I'm less distracted. I tend to only get what I have on my shopping list and not all the "extras".

6. Cook from scratch. Packaged meals are convenient but so expensive. It is much cheaper and healthier to cook meals from scratch. I know some people who do once a month cooking and freeze meals.

7. Buy generic brands. I find most of the items work just as well as the branded ones. So, why pay more?

8. Eat non-meat meals 2 or 3 times a week.

9. Check out grocery store sales. The front and back pages of the weekly store flyers are usually where the good deals are.

10. Request price matching. Stores are getting more and more competitive and many are doing price matches.

11. Shop during off-peak hours. As a SAHM, I have the luxury of doing my grocery shopping during the week while most people are at work. I find that I'm more efficient that way and will stick close to my list instead of wandering through the aisles and picking up things I don't need. Same thought goes with shopping on non-pay days.

12. Shop once a week or less. I try to limit my grocery shopping to every 2 weeks. That way, I save on gas and also reduces my impulse shopping.

13. Buy items that are in season. They are much cheaper, fresher and you can always save some for later. For example, I bought LOTS of blueberries and froze them. Now, I have blueberries to last me for months to come.

14. Don't buy non-grocery items at a grocery store. I find that most non-grocery items are more expensive at the grocery store. So, I make a separate list for these items.

15. Eat less junk food. I've noticed a huge difference in our grocery bill by cutting back on junk food, soft drinks and sweets.

Naming A Child

2007-08-22T23:30:00.000-04:00

I believe that naming a child is a profound, spiritual matter. I believe that a person's name defines a person's essence. To me, it's a statement of the person's character, his/her identity and his/her uniqueness.

I want my children to have godly names. Names with good meanings. To me, it's a statement of what I hope my child will become and what he/she stands for.

My son's Christian and Chinese names mean "God has heard", "knowledge and righteousness". I want him to know that he is a gift from God, an answer to our prayers and I want him to grow up to be well-adjusted, gifted, knowledgeable, honest, humble and a righteous man of God.

Sometimes you wonder if parents take this responsibility of naming their child seriously....

Like this couple who tried to name their child "@" : http://www.cnn.com/2007/funnynews/08/16/strange.name.reut/

Or all the out-of-this-world celebrity baby names :
Check out Fifi Trixibelle (Bob Geldof's daughter), Seven Sirius (Erykah Badu's son), Moon Unit and Diva Muffin (Frank Zappa's daughter), Sage Moonblood (Sylvester Stallone's daughter), Spec Wildhorse (John Cougar Mallencamp's son) or Pilot Inspektor (Jason Lee's son).

Stay-At-Home Moms vs. Working Moms

2007-08-20T21:04:00.000-04:00

A few friends and I were chatting about this particular topic on ComeHereLah (a forum for Malaysians overseas). In the forum, we have a mix of stay-at-home moms and working moms and we all agree that there are advantages and disadvantages to both. However, we also feel that sometimes, as women, we are our own worst enemy. Being a mom is HARD, regardless of whether one stays at home or works outside of the home. And the last thing we need is to be at war with each other. Here's a nice little article I found that talks about the issue.

Author: L. J. Allen
Sometimes it can seem as though stay at home moms and working moms are battling against each other. The truth is, there are lots of women who stay at home with their children, and there are some moms who work. The other truth is, one of them is not better than the other. As moms, we all love our children, and we all want them to be happy. There are many advantages and disadvantages to both staying at home, and working outside of the home.

Staying at home with your children is great because you are able to be with them all day. You are able to bond more with your children, and instill more of your values and what you feel is important into your children. It also gives you a great feeling to be able to be with your children all the time. However, staying home with your children can also make them more dependent on you than most other children are toward their moms. It can make them fear leaving you, whether you're leaving them at school, or with the babysitter for a night off. The disadvantages to you are being on call all the time. It can make you feel like you want to tear your hair out! Also, although you have one of the hardest jobs, you're not actually bringing in an income. Although, today many moms are working over the internet, or with home businesses.

Mothers who work outside the home get their chance to be someone else other than 'mom.' They can concentrate on what they are trying to do much better than a mother who works at home. The only 'kids' they have in their hair are the ones they work with! Also, being away from your children more will foster a greater sense of independence in them. Disadvantages to working outside the home are obvious. You don't get as much time to spend with your children, and this can make you feel guilty or neglectful. Also, you have to know that whoever may be your children's caretakers will have an impact on what your children grow to believe.

Whether we work outside the home, or stay at home with our kids, we are all mothers. We all want the same things for our children. Happiness, opportunities, and we want to give them all we can. Being a mother is hard enough today. We need to stick together as moms, whatever kind of mom we are. Supporting each other in motherhood and in life is what is important. Support each other's decisions and be proud of the decision that you have made. Let's end the war!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/stay-at-home-moms-vs-working-mom-197098.html

Little Peanut

2007-08-18T23:08:00.000-04:00

I had my first appointment at the hospital on Friday. I had to attend a brief orientation with lots of paperwork, followed by my first ultrasound and labwork. For this ultrasound, I had to have a full bladder. Not fun! But seeing my tiny baby on the screen and his/her heartbeat made up for the discomfort.

For the labwork, I had to do a urine test and lots of blood work. They had a hard time finding a vein! They poked me 6 different times and moved the needle around under my skin to locate a vein (ouch!). I don't know who was more happy when we finally did find one and sucked 6 vials of blood out of me! Now, I look like a druggie who had one too many hits! Urrgghh...hate needles.

Anyway, as of today, I'm 9 weeks pregnant. Little peanut has been making me feel really tired and hungry ALL the time. But ain't my peanut cute??!!

Happy Left-Handers Day!

2007-08-14T16:35:00.000-04:00

August 13th 2007 is Left-Handers Day. I'm a day late but I just wanted to give a shout-out to all lefties out there. I'm a lefty too. I didn't have many left-handed friends growing up. It felt a little weird to be the odd one out. I remember having trouble learning how to write. I would constantly confuse "b" with "d" and write some of my alphabets in "mirror image". I remember doing that a lot with "c" since my name started with that!

I also struggle with everyday tools that people usually take for granted like a pair of scissors, knife, peeler, pens, etc. It's embarassing as a little Chinese kid trying to use a pair of chopsticks sitting beside someone who is right-handed. So I used to always make sure my mom is the one sitting to my left and she would not mind my chopsticks "fighting" with hers!

One of my aunts from UK sent me a bunch of really cool left-handed items when I was younger. I am still using them till this day. (Aunt Kim, if you are reading this...THANK YOU!!)

But I'm not 100% left-handed though. For example, I use the mouse with my right-hand. I also strum a guitar with my right. But I cannot write, cut or do anything else with my right hand! I found this little test online and decided to try it out myself. Here are the questions and my answers :

How Left-Handed Are You?
Imagine the centre of your back is itching. Which hand do you scratch it with? LEFT
Interlock your fingers. Which thumb is uppermost? LEFT
Imagine you are applauding. Start clapping your hands. Which hand is uppermost? NEITHER
Wink at an imaginary friend straight in front of you. Which eye does the winking? LEFT
Put your hands behind your back, one holding the other. Which hand is doing the holding? LEFT
Someone in front of you is shouting but you cannot hear the words. Cup your ear to hear better. Which ear do you cup? LEFT
Count to three on your fingers, using the forefinger of the other hand. Which forefinger do you use? LEFT
Tilt your head over on to one shoulder. Which shoulder does it touch? LEFT
Fixate a small distant object with your eyes and point directly at it with your forefinger. Now close one eye. Now change eyes. Which eye was open when the fingertip remained in line with the small object? (When the other eye, the non-dominant one, is open and the dominant eye is closed, the finger will appear to move to one side of the object.) RIGHT
Fold your arms. Which forearm is uppermost? RIGHT

But now, I'm a happy left-hander in a right-hand world. Being left-handed is so much a part of me, I cannot imagine living otherwise. And I guess I would not be the same person if I wasn't left-handed.