Life As Parents

My new site

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 17:43:00 +0000

Thanks for dropping by. Please visit me at my new site at Life As A Mummy for more parenting and mummy stories. See you there!

Holiday, holiday, where are you?

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:20:00 +0000

Well it's more of a question for myself than anyone else. We have some options, just that we have to make up our minds. I haven't had a large get-together holiday for a long time already and I'm thinking it can be really fun. Only thing is the drive is gonna be quite long and it's not cheap either. Maybe should stop thinking of the cons and think more of the pros, huh?

Been getting lots of airline promotions too but the hotel rates aren't that cheap come year end as it's the holiday seasons. Even some of the complimentary services like alamo car rental and tour packages aren't too cheap either.

So we'll probably favour some local hot spots this time around.

Trying out blackhead lotion

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:16:00 +0000

I haven't had much time to remove blackheadss on my nose area in the last couple of months. So when I saw this highly affordable blackhead lotion, I thought of giving it a try. It's suppose to help soften the blackheads and therefore making it very easy to remove without going through the painful extraction that could sometimes leave scars if you're not too careful.

So far I've used it about 3 times, but not diligently as recommended by the usage instruction. So far it hasn't helped much. I guess I just have to spend the time to use it properly otherwise itwon't do any good.

Pushing for sales

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:12:00 +0000

Whilst I was browsing for some supplements for women's health in general, some sales assistants were recommending some of their products to me earnestly. That's fine, seeing that everyone wants to make a sale of their products and make a decent commission.

But I found one lady who pushed it too far. She was looking me up and down, probably studying me to see how else she can sell to me. She must have noticed the wedding band on my finger because she started trying her luck to sell me male enhancement supplements for the better half!

I'm also in the profession where selling is necessary for me to be successful. But I really won't go that far to upsell. But that's just me...I guess for everyone else, it's different.

Try Himalaya facial wash

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:00:00 +0000

A friend asked for recommendations on facial products, in particular for anti acne products for her highly sensitive skin. It doesn't help that she breaks out a lot during pregnancy which makes it difficult for her to try just about any product in case it may affect her in any untoward way.

What I recommended was a herbal product from the Himalaya Herbal range, where the products are claimed to be made purely from plants. I should think it's pretty safe but of course I cautioned for her to read the label and ask all the questions she needs answered before trying.

I have been using the facial wash for a long while and it has helped much in keeping the break outs at bay.

Extra layers

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:51:00 +0000

In the last couple of weeks I've been eating a lot. Not sure why that is. Well I guess my appetite just got better for reasons unknown to me. I do notice that some of my clothes are getting fitter and tighter. I have to start watching the amount I eat otherwise I'm going to balloon up real fast.

Someone was telling me some months back about this substance called leucine which can help to burn fats but not muscles. Seems like a good thing for those who wants to tone up and lose unknown layers.

Sounds good to me but I'm also skeptical because I'm afraid of the side effects. Better to just watch my food than to take things like that and risk it, huh?

New friend wants a sure win diet plan

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:46:00 +0000

Met a new friend yesterday. She's about 5 months pregnant and is looking forward to having her very first baby in the family.

She says that she has put on a lot of weight since the pregnancy and she seems a little upset about the weight gain and asked if I have any sure win diets she can use. I told her I didn't.

Appetite suppressant diet pills are what she's thinking of starting if she still can't get hold of any winning formula from friends and relatives. I wasn't so sure it was the best she could do but hey, there's really no guarantee that something that worked for one would definitely work for another, right?

Hope she finds a more natural way to do this soon...

You can't be too safe these days

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:43:00 +0000

Over the weekend we heard many horror stories of how people have experienced their home being broken into and the still existing snatch thefts going on in many housing estates. Looks like the bad times aren't completely over and crime rates are still high.

One can never be too safe, not even with all the precautions that we can take like installing security alarms at home, carrying rfid blocking wallets, having pepper sprays in our bags, etc.

Children are also part of the targets these days for many culprits. They steal children and use them as beggars to earn an income. So parents should really keep their children close at all times when they are outdoors, wherever they are. It's never too safe anywhere so don't take it for granted.

NZ or Beijing?

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:03:00 +0000

I'm thinking if I would like Beijing or New Zealand better as a free trip given to me. Whilst I prefer a buzzing city like Beijing (especially shopping wise!), I also think New Zealand offers more unique an experience. Shopping may not be as great in New Zealand, but I was told the koolaburra sheep skin boots are awesome.

Well well, I'll just work harder and qualify myself for both trips first. Then I'll decide which one I prefer to go to in the end. Nothing comes for free without some work first.

I do wish to bring along my son for the trip though...I think New Zealand would be good for him. Much cleaner and fresher there.

Lost touch with financial products

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:56:00 +0000

Since I left the bank, I noticed that the array of financial products being offered are getting more and more complexed and in some ways even more creative. Do you know what a mortgage life insurance is? I sure don't. I know mortgage, and a life insurance policy, but I don't know what it is when the two gets combined.

Not only that, there appears to be more structured investments in the market these days too. Some are really good teasers but I really wonder how good they really are.

Having been in a bank, I know that the harder a product is pushed and the more creative or complex it gets, it's actually all meant to confuse the consumer so they don't really understand what they are getting into. Because if only they knew, they'd probably never buy them at all!

Targeted customer

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:52:00 +0000

Since the time I got pregnant, I found that I've been a targeted customer to some of my friends in the direct selling business. Most of the direct selling businesses carry some form of health products including water systems and I found myself to get calls from friends who are distributor water filter agents or health supplement freaks who tell me I seriously need their products in order for me to stay healthy and also that of my child's. Hmm...sometimes it takes pregnancy to tell you who are your aggressive friends in selling and pushing their products!

Can't sleep anymore

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:49:00 +0000

Woke up early today, more than an hour before my alarm is set to ring. Actually I woke up several times in the night and thought that I had slept for quite long already but it still seemed too early to wake up. I was feeling quite fresh but went back to sleep anyway to get more rest.

Finally woke up at 6.15am and decided to get some work done. Lots to do today. But not before I blog about what sweet dreams I had in the night. Haha.

Dreamt of the dream house I've always wanted, with the kind of kitchen and enamel cookware I love, the neat and big garden, the cozy living room with a nice study to work in.

Maybe that dream gave me lots of energy and that's why I don't need more sleep already. Must work harder to get that dream house into reality and not just a dream!

Should I or not?

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:24:00 +0000

Recently I managed to get some good contacts for places to rent costumes. With this in mind, I was thinking Halloween at home can be quite fun. I'm told the costume rental shops do great business and so I assume they have plenty of suitable Halloween costumes for rent.

Hmm...I'm tempted, just for the fun of it. To dress up as someone I'm not. If we decide to play along, this will be my second time to play dress up at Halloween. It'll be Ryan's first. But I do wonder if there are costumes that will fit him. Maybe gotta check out Toys R Us for him instead.

How does your family have fun on Halloween's Day? I know in our part of the world, it's not something usual for us to do. I just thought it'd be fun :)

Forgot to renew insurance

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:38:00 +0000

Several days ago I just remembered that I had forgotten to renew my son's medical insurance. I feel like a terrible mummy for forgetting such an important thing. Thanks to all those flyers stuffed into our mailboxes by cheap insurance companies week after week that it jolted my memory.

See, sometimes they do serve as reminders and not just pure junk :P Now you will look differently at these kind of marketing efforts, isn't it? Well I do!

Went to visit the new Toys R Us

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:12:00 +0000

Today we went to the new Toys R Us store that just opened at Ikano Power Center. I was surprised they didn't really have any opening deals. Just the usual member's special price and Best Buys just like any other Toys R Us outlet.

Was quite disappointed as I was thinking of buying something for Ryan's birthday next month. I really thought there would be some opening sales since it's a completely new store. I guess the business there is just too good, no need to have opening promotion to pull the crowd in.

Anyway, it's a good thing that we have sales almost everywhere now for the next 2 months, so it's still a great time to go birthday present hunting :)

Good food are always filled with guilty

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:50:00 +0000

Had lots to eat today and mind you they are plenty of fattening stuff. Though I do not put on weight very easily, I'm sure little by little they add up and one fine day I may just surprise myself with too much weight gained without really noticing.

So maybe I should get off my lazy butt and take one of the advise I just got 2 days ago to start going to the gym and get the best ab workout done once a week.

Not only is it healthy, it's one sure way to get fit too. I'm normally the lazy type who just wouldn't exercise. So why am I talking like this today? I bet it is the guilt in all that food I've eaten...they're making me talk this way!

Laid back weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 08:46:00 +0000

While putting my boy to sleep today I decided to get a quick fix. As in some facial time. Picked a mask and left it on for half an hour before I dozed off for an hour.

The mask left me feeling very refreshed. It's actually one of those collagen mask that's supposed to help with getting rid of fine lines over time.

I guess if I enjoy doing the masks and do it long enough, it may be a good replacement to wrinkle cream. Should be much cheaper than those creams too, don't you think?

Anyway, how did you kick back today?

Relaxing Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:43:00 +0000

Today is a little of a "me-day" after spending most days on work, meeting lots of different people. Not that it's not fun, sometimes it can be while other days it can be rather overwhelming. Like the other day when the new acquaintance I met kept talking about human growth hormone.

So taking the time to do what I need to do, to fulfill what's in my heart, is one of the best ways for me to unwind and take things easy.

I guess it's back to working hard the following week to keep up with the target I've set for myself...but meanwhile, I still have a couple of days before the work starts again on Monday :)

Wonderful day

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:40:00 +0000

Yesterday I had a great day with just son and mummy heading out to have ice cream and browsing toys. It was meant as a day of fun for him, and a way for me to spend more time with him alone. Weekend is normally not so relaxed for us, I don't know why...so I kinda like doing it this way, on a lazy weekday afternoon, just mother and son.

Came across some sales promoters who were selling slimming pills and some of them offered me brochures to study. Hmm...did I look that fat? I didn't think so, but I guess they just know that a mummy will always carry a little tummy from the pregnancy...it was their cue to give me all those brochures!

Odd things that people ask

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:51:00 +0000

Lots of people are getting into internet business these days. Many ladies first venture into clothing and beauty products. Some of the people I know are also joining the band wagon and become competitors to my clothing business.

Well I don't mind, after all we can't stop people from doing what they want and I too got onto the band wagon after seeing the potential from others who run their businesses.

But the odd thing is that these people known to me come and ask me directly who are my wholesale distributors! Oh come on, you can't expect your competition to tell you their trade secrets right?

I guess some people just want to take the easy way out and hope that you are nice enough to tell them. I just find them odd and not so sensitive as friends.

Weird conversation with a daddy

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 07:45:00 +0000

I was having lunch with a new friend who's a daddy to 2 boys. Usually when we get to know new friends, the conversations tend to be more generic and we try to learn more about each other as much as possible. But it was nothing like that today.

I thought since we both have kids, the natural conversation topic that's most comfortable will be to talk about parenting. But instead, I found him to be on some weird topic that I didn't think guys cared much about. I feel like he was educating me on how to buy human growth hormone!

Believe it or not, it was some strange meet-up. Hmm...maybe we should just remain not too close because we don't seem to be on the same frequency. Far off, actually. Some people are just not meant to be wired up as friends huh?

Ways to save money

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:03:00 +0000

Today I bumped into a friend while doing grocery shopping. We only walked about together and chatted for about 15 minutes max before splitting off, but in those short few minutes, I learned something from her. She's someone who's careful with money in a good way.

Before spending, she surveys several shops to see who offers her the best price for the products she wants. And she's rather innovative in trying to get more use out of some products she buys too.

She recommended a few household items for me to get and even taught me how to use them wisely for a longer span of time. Fantastic!

At the end of the meeting, I told her we should make it a point to get together sometime and have a drink and chat properly. I think she's the perfect candidate for me to ask about the cheapest auto insurance in town.

Am looking forward to that day. I'm sure I'll learn plenty more from her!

Dressing up the little boy

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:26:00 +0000

Little girls need no special occasions to dress up prettily at all. Whether it's a casual shopping weekend or just heading out to dinner, proud mummies can always dress them up in beautiful dresses and matching hair clips and shoes and no one would think the girl is overdressed. But the same can't be said about little boys.

So the only occasion where little boys get to be all dressy and look really smart and handsome wearing shirts and bow ties are really during some special formal events, huh?

Well I'm glad we'll be looking forward to at least one of such event happening in the near future, so at least my little boy can wear something outstanding other than his usual shirts and pants!

Kids can be the best natural remedies

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 14:27:00 +0000

Kids are actually parents' best remedies for many things. They make us laugh, happy, eat healthy for their sake, learn from the encyclopedia so that we can relate things to them when they ask, etc. Don't you think it's because of them that we want to live a healthier and better lifestyle? They have brought us more joy than they know, directly and indirectly.

Not to mention active kids are also parents' natural best weight loss supplement just by chasing after them. Priceless, for not having to do any extra work to get the fats out of the way.

So parents, take a moment and thank our lucky stars for having the precious children we have and what great gifts they are to us in enlightening and bringing more meaning to our lives.

This mummy isn't getting any younger

noreply@blogger.com (Penny) — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 14:17:00 +0000

I always consider myself to be still at a young age. However, that's not really what my body is telling me. I'm starting to see signs of fine lines and that tells me to go out there and find some good wrinkle fillers. My body is also showing some tell tale signs. I no longer have the same kind of stamina doing the simple things I used to do as a college student or even when I was in my early 20s.

It really is time to think about having a second kid before I give my body a beating when I get too "old" for it. We all know how tiring it can be to care for young babies, so the faster we get it over with, the lesser the body has to be "abused" with exhaustion.

What do you think?