Mariuca

Cool Choculator!

2009-07-12T03:58:00.003+08:00

We visited a quaint little Arts and Crafts store in Ueno, Tokyo. The moment I stepped inside, I was blinded by the many colourful items on display. From rainbow swirl pencils and blast effect markers to the colourful buckets of clay and even a musical Art Barn (activity-packed play set); I was totally immersed in the wonders of this store. My thoughts immediately turned to my crafty artist friend Emila for I'm sure she'd love to visit this lovely store too!

As I made my way to the stationery corner, my eyes caught sight of something brown, small and delicious - a Choculator! My friend Nessa recently blogged about the Choculator at her place and when I saw the post, I was like Hey, I have that! It was totally cool to see somebody else thought the chocolate calculator was interesting enough to blog about. But it was cooler to know that I just purchased one last month while vacationing in Tokyo!

Perfect for chocoholics like yours truly, this fully-functional solar-powered Choculator smells 100% like pure chocolate. It even feels a little like chocolate and it sure looks real enough to eat! The Choculator smells so heavenly that it's difficult to stay focus when I use it. Instead of working on my calculations, all I want to do is sniff and feel it in my hands; such is the pulling power of this delightful Choculator!

Want a bite Benji?

The Choculator was one of my best buys from Japan. For 1050 yen, I now get to indulge in delicious-smelling chocolate, any time I get a choc attack. Even Benji is enticed by my new Choculator!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

DEBBS
NICK
SHEMAH

Thank You for the Awards *

2009-07-11T14:05:00.001+08:00

Saturday is here and what better way to kick off the weekend than by showing off all the lovely awards I received over the last few months. I've not had an Award Gala in ages so this post is a long time coming. Without further ado, let me give a big THANK YOU to everyone gracious enough to present Wishing on a Falling Star with all these amazing awards. I love them all and will proudly add them to my collection.

Friendship Award & I Love Your Blog Award from Lily

Queen of Blogs Award & Super Follower Award from Star

Your Blog is Fab Award from Foong

Your Blog Makes Us Smile Award & Perky Blogger Award from Bill

Favorite Blog Award from Bokjae

Over The Top Award from Lainy

Best Blog Award from Farah

I would like to pass on these beautiful awards to everyone who presented me with the above awards as well as some of my favourite bloggers - Emila, LadyJava, Kim, Monica, Debbs, Ane, LR, Jean, Sandman, ECL, Shemah, Rizal, Nessa, Ayie, Liza, Nick, Metz, Adrian, Anny, Bem, TH and Marvic. Thanks for all the love and support peeps!

MARIUCA LOVES

Big Blue Sport-brella

2009-07-10T12:25:00.003+08:00

What's blue in colour, rugged, domed shape with side flaps and gives you instant 125SPF protection from the sun, rain and wind?

A SKLZ Sport-Brella of course! Apparently, this Sports Sunshade Umbrella is so popular that it has been back-ordered until July 15th! So if you order one today, your sport-brella will only ship out then.

The sport-brella sure looks huge to me but don't let its size fool you for this gigantic umbrella is very easy to set up. It takes a mere three seconds to have it up and it is big enough to fit your entire family. This would be a great item to bring along when you're enjoying a picnic or watching your kids play at the park and of course when you visit the beach. It almost looks like a small cosy tent doesn't it?

I used to carry an umbrella around everywhere I went, especially during my working days. I was in the sales department then, which required a lot of travelling. My umbrella was nothing as huge as the sport-brella of course but I always had one with me. I guess it's because I've always been afraid of the sun and its harmful effect on my skin. I pride myself with having good skin and complexion and since I'm not getting any younger, I'm glad that I started caring for my skin at an early age.

Nowadays, the umbrella is gone. I no longer have to meet clients and travel in the hot sun, so an umbrella is no longer necessary. I do however still require my shades every time I leave home. Without them, I'd feel incomplete and my eyes unprotected from the harmful effects of the hot blinding sun. Speaking of which, it looks like another hot sunny Friday here. And I'm glad I'm comfortably indoors with the air-con on at full blast instead of travelling the city to meet clients under the hot scorching sun. Have a great weekend everybody!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

ANE
RIZAL
DEBBS

June Top First Commenters *

2009-07-10T05:34:00.002+08:00

Friday is here and I am in a great mood! I have been very busy but work is like that for me. When you freelance from home, it's hard to stick to a regular schedule. I'm busy but I like it this way; it keeps me from thinking about other stress factors creeping into my life every few months.

Anyway, let me start my weekend by saying THANK YOU to my Top First Commenters last month. Thank you so much for taking the time to CHOP and comment here at Wishing on a Falling Star. See you next month?

My Top First Commenter will receive 1 FOC Ad + 1000 EC Credits

CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU

Monica 14
Shemah 12
LJ 10
Ane 7
Debbs 6
Bem Bem 4
Bill 3
Emila 2
Nessa 2
Marvic 1
Nick 1
HaaziQ 1

MARIUCA LOVES

Yummy Teriyaki Burger!

2009-07-09T08:30:00.002+08:00

The city of Tokyo is filled with many interesting stores and huge buildings with glaring billboards and signs everywhere. Whether it's a huge colourful signboard or cheap yard signs, they're all equally interesting and hard to ignore.

When I first spotted this huge Becker's sign outside this restaurant in Tokyo, I was immediately captivated! Bright and cheery, the sign lured B and me to venture in for a quick bite after walking around the city all day. Inside, it was just as inviting with warm lights to keep the mood cosy and simple clean decor for dining comfort.

The menu was extensive and everything sounded delicious. After much thinking, we finally settled for a Grilled Chicken Teriyaki burger, which came with a generous portion of fries. I had my usual iced coffee on the side. Sweet and juicy, this is by far the most delicious Teriyaki I ever had and to have it come in a form of a burger was a delicious bonus!

We dined at Becker's twice during our Tokyo stay and both visits saw us ordering the same item. Looking at this picture now, all I want to have for lunch today is something Japanese! Does anybody know where I can get a yummy Teriyaki Burger around here?

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

MONICA
RIZAL
SHEMAH

Contemplating Moving

2009-07-08T18:55:00.002+08:00

Before you think I'm crazy or plain ridiculous to suddenly feel like moving into a new home despite not having an actual call to do so, let me tell you the reason behind this sudden inspiration!

Firstly, my friend DD who was previously living in the condo unit right above mine, just moved into a new house. She has a garden now since she moved into a proper landed home, with more room for her two year old to jump about and run around! I'm not saying that my current condo home is tiny, far from it. In fact, there are 7 different designs to choose from here and the one we purchased is the biggest unit of 1250 sq. ft.

And then, my blogging BFF LadyJava also recently moved into a new condo. She has been offline for days now, waiting for our local internet provider to reconnect her connection. Seeing her blog about the move and all the packing and renovating she did last month got me reminiscing about the time when we first we moved here.

It was almost three years ago I believe and I still remember that feeling of excitement as we moved our stuff bit by bit into our new home. The actual move was so tiring and I remember after finally moving all our boxes and furniture here, I just collapsed on the bed in tears. It was mostly from exhaustion and I was also overwhelmed by the fact that B and I did everything ourselves. As tiring as that weekend was, I somehow managed to unpack all my boxes and put away everything within the short duration of 2 days; even I was amazed at my diligence and speed!

So anyway, after having two very good friends moved into new homes, I too am enticed to look for a new place; a change of scenery if you will! Of course B thinks I'm a little crazy but I know he too secretly likes the idea of us moving to a fresh new place. He'd get his own office and finally a garden too if we decide to opt for landed home instead of another condo. I just have to continue bugging him to see things from my point of view!

Having said that, the real estate market is not doing very well right now, at least at my end of the world. So to put up our home for sale would be another issue deterring me from my wanting to move into a new home. It won't be easy to sell of our home and surely it will take some time. I could always opt to rent out our unit but I think both B and I would feel better if we sold the house rather than renting it out to a strange tenant. So we'll see. I'm not saying that we won't ever move, but for now I still have to be patient until a realistic solution comes along.

Meanwhile, if you're in the real estate business, check out OnTop Results. This very informative site helps you to grow your business and recently added real estate marketing to their already long list of services. An online marketing seminar is scheduled for the 28th July and this is a must-not-miss for all real estate agents who would like to learn how to brand your real estate career through online marketing. Get tips on the best real estate marketing strategies and real estate web design too! Check it out yeah?

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

MONICA
ANE
SANDMAN

And the Winner is... **

2009-07-08T15:41:00.006+08:00

Good morning world! Yeah, I know it's already afternoon, which is my version of morning, so once again...Good morning!

I had the best time ever with the Guess the Price of my Hair contest yesterday and though I said I'd give it until the end of the week, there's no harm in announcing my winner early, especially since I already have one!

Let me give appreciation to the 15 bloggers who happily participated in my contest. It was hilarious seeing you guys guess the weirdest numbers in hopes that one of your entries strikes it rich with 500 EC credits and 3 FCSB points as your prize.

So let's not delay this any longer and let me reveal the price I paid to get my hair done and looking good! Are you ready?

After a gruelling 6-hour session at my salon, I spent RM670 for my new look; which included rebonding, haircut, hair treatment and colouring! As you can see, the person with the closest guess is...Debbs from Ramblings of the Phat who guessed RM675 as one of her entries. Congrats Debbs, you will receive your prize today!

Thank you to everyone who took part. I had a blast and I hope you did too!

THANK YOU

Monica - RM530, RM680, RM750
Sandman - RM550.43, RM680.20, RM735.75
Debbs - RM550, RM675, RM770
TH - RM300
Denaihati - RM150
Rizal - RM600, RM500, RM550
Emila - RM680, RM599, RM435
Tekkaus - RM588
Rolly - RM752
Adrian - RM650
Kenwooi - RM550
Ayie - RM700
LR - RM650, RM588, RM750
Nessa - RM390, RM450, RM 590
Vhincent - RM650, RM720, RM775

MARIUCA LOVES

Guess the Price of My Hair!

2009-07-07T17:28:00.007+08:00

Do you guys remember the time I was complaining about my hair? Something had to be done to this mop of a hair I was spotting for I have not done anything to it for almost a year. I was desperate to get a new look at that time for my hair was acting up and looked terrible! So terrible indeed that a hair transplant sounded quite enticing!

Well, I managed to get my hair done on the very day of my trip. I had made an appointment with my new hairdresser for 10am, but fashionably late me sauntered into the shop an hour later. I was ready for a new look which called for a rebonding, colouring and cutting session too.

I was initially skeptical about this new hairdresser simply because I know my own hair and not many hairdressers really understand my needs or that of my hair. When I explained what I wanted done, my new hairdresser said no problem and they will make sure I'd be out of the salon by 4pm latest in time for me to pack a few more things and head to the airport. So I had like three different hairdressers working on my head all at the same time; each one convincing me that I would emerge beautiful once done! The salon was new to me but since they offered every hair service imaginable, short of hair transplants of course, I was quite convinced.

Halfway through doing my hair, the hairdressers started speaking to each other in Chinese, which I did not understand of course. But I sensed it had to do something with my hair, which got me worried! They finally told me that they couldn't go with the lighter shade I had initially chosen and gave me some long-winded excuse about my hair being too dark to show off the colour to perfection! The thing is, I KNOW my hair and I KNOW my request for a light shade of brown is possible. Prior to this, I've had the same exact shade twice and the colour came out perfectly! I was upset of course but since I had no time to argue, I reluctantly agreed to the darker shade chosen for me. My hairdresser said I should come back later to add highlights to my hair but I did not want highlights; I wanted full colour and that was it!

I couldn't very well fume or throw a tantrum right there and then so I had to suck it up and hoped for the best. In the end, this is the result. I love that my hair is so much easier to manage after the rebonding and treatment and I also like my new length. I'm just not completely happy with the colour, that's all!

Anyone care to venture a guess as to how much I spent rebonding, colouring and cutting my hair? Oh I had treatment done as well. The first person with the closest guess will WIN 500 EC credits and 3 FCSB points from me. You have three guesses per person and I will leave this contest open until the end of the week, have fun!

Hint: Price ranges from RM300-RM800 and I spent 6 hours at the salon. Guess how much I spent on my hair?

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

MONICA
SANDMAN
DEBBS

MM - Kissin' You by Total *

2009-07-06T15:38:00.002+08:00

If you have not shared your music taste with me, do check out the Blogthings quiz over at MPG! My result was spot-on, which totally made my day; knowing that my music choice depicts my sense of music to perfection. You should try the quiz too, see what Blogthings has to say about your music style.

According to Blogthings, my highest influence lies in alternative and RnB music, which is so true! This week, I am going with another favourite sexy, smooth RnB number from Total. This song takes me back to my good old carefree uni days in the US when everything was just perfect! Enjoy my pick this week and happy MM to all my readers!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

MARIUCA LOVES

Let It Snow!

2009-07-05T20:01:00.002+08:00

One of the things I regretted NOT trying while studying in the US was skiing! I don't know why I did not find skiing appealing at that time. I tried many other interesting things that were not available at my home country Malaysia back then. I went strawberry and peach picking, I visited the famous Six Flags theme park, the prestigious Harvard University and even survived a weekend at a farm! All that I enjoyed but whenever a ski trip was planned, I opted out.

I know how to ice-skate, thanks to the lessons I took as a young girl studying in Canada so it's not like I was afraid of the icy snow or the chilly weather. I guess skiing just failed to take my fancy. But now, having been home for more than ten years and enduring the super hot and humid weather we've been facing as of late, the idea of visiting a snowy mountain slope sure sounds enticing and exciting too! Perhaps it's also age catching up with me and I feel the need to try everything at least once!

I hear Deer Valley Ski Rentals at Ski Butlers is excellent! Once you've made up your mind to enjoy a little chilly winter skiing, all you have to do is book online or call their toll free number to secure your reservation. Ski Butlers will then deliver the equipment you requested straight to your accommodations. There's no need to drive down to the store to collect your rental equipment, which of course spells convenience.

In the event you encounter any problem or dissatisfaction with the equipment, Ski Butlers will personally drop by your place to fix your woes. The only thing you really have to worry about is skiing and enjoying yourself on the mountain slopes! And when you're done, Ski Butlers will also collect your rental equipment from your place so there is absolutely no need for you to drive back to the store to return your items. It all sounds so perfect! I wish we had snow here in Malaysia. Besides skiing, I sure would like to build a cute huge snowman. I bet my cats would love playing in the snow too!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

DEBBS
RIZAL
MARVIC

Friday Fill-In (6) **

2009-07-04T18:44:00.004+08:00

I miss having a Friday Fill-In here, so this one's for me and for YOU! Happy reading and I hope you're enjoying your weekend!

And...here we go!

1. When I heard about Michael Jackson's untimely death, I was shocked into silence.

2. Laughter and a little perfume shopping is the best medicine.

3. It's late, but I love being fashionably late so enjoy this Friday Fill-In on a Saturday!

4. B will be my true love, always.

5. My eyes have seen things more terrifying than the TOWER of TERROR!

6. Trust and love are two things I hold strongly.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to updating Meow Diaries and MPG, tomorrow my plans include a day at the salon and Sunday, I want to relaxi-taxi!

MARIUCA LOVES

Way To Go Emila!

2009-07-03T11:37:00.002+08:00

Hola! It's Friday and you know it's my favourite day of the week. I am definitely looking forward to the weekend. It has been another hectic week for Mariuca and all I want to do today is catch up on my sleep and wake up refreshed later, in time to enjoy a little RnR time with my darling. So I'd like to make this one a happy post to usher in the weekend and I know just what to talk about today.

I actually want to congratulate my best buddy, the creative Emila for her recent wonderful accomplishment. As the creator of my header and everything else that's graphic related to all my three blogs, Emila is known as an artist who is multi-talented in the areas of website design, logo creation and all other aspects of creative design. She recently started designing free blogger templates, which you can download from her site so do check them out.

Having been an ardent fan and supporter of her awesome creations and work of art, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate Emila on her recent accomplishment of securing 5 book deals with our local PTS Publication! She will be coming up with the content and designing as well. We already know what a talented artist she is and to have it acknowledged by this awesome deal is just amazing!

I do hope Emila remembers to send over an autographed copy of her very first published book to me. I can't wait to see the finished product, good luck Emila!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

SHEMAH
MARVIC
DEBBS

June Top EC Droppers *

2009-07-02T07:11:00.002+08:00

July is here and I'm all geared to start dropping regularly again. The last few weeks saw me a little lazy to spend my days dropping. Firstly, my connection has been unstable and more often than not, it's not speedy enough to help make my drop rounds smooth without glitch. Secondly, I already missed 7 days of dropping while on vacation, so the idea of me not being able to complete 31 drops on my favourite blogs was a little daunting, which further contributed to my lack of enthusiasm for EC dropping last month.

But hey, it's the beginning of a new month and I hope to feel more inspired to drop this month. I'd also like to say thank you very much to all my loyal droppers who consistently dropped on Wishing on a Falling Star on a daily basis. Excellent work on the maximum 31 drops peeps and I do hope to see you back here in July! Happy dropping.

My Top EC Dropper will receive 1 FOC Ad + 1000 EC Credits

CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU

Beethoven Midi 31
Blog Mockers 31
Autism Experiences 31
New Dilemma 31
A Simple Life 31
Mommy's Little Corner 31
Mumblings 31
Blogging Ideas 31
Vacation Oregon 31
Super Fisherman 31

MARIUCA LOVES

Tip-Top Tokyo

2009-07-02T04:06:00.002+08:00

I sometimes feel like I belong in Japan; maybe that's why Tokyo is one of my favourite cities in the whole world! What I loved most about being in Japan last month was the efficiency I enjoyed EVERYWHERE we went.

Throughout our stay, we took the public transportation of course; cab rides in Japan are very costly. B did an awesome job of being our official tour guide, deciphering this map; which if you ask me, is oh so confusing! But then again my sense of direction has always been bad.

Anyway, the trains never fail to arrive on time, and commuters queue up when boarding. There is no need to push or cut queues; Japanese are well-behaved and respectful. Seats in trains meant for the elderly are rightfully occupied and the trains are always spic and span inside.

Dining in restaurants and fast food outlets is also a pleasant experience. With impeccable service and everything in place for your complete convenience, dining in Japan was memorable! Patrons diligently return their trays and trash empty boxes according to the where they should be discarded and again; we were always promptly served. I also have to stress on the politeness of Japanese; something we Malaysians can't shout about when it comes to customer service.

It seems like everything from customer service and high-quality products to efficiency and even factory maintenance, Japan has it all covered. Is it a wonder then why Japan remains in my heart?

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

LADYJAVA
AYIE
TEKKAUS

Coffee Haven!

2009-07-01T17:06:00.003+08:00

We arrived at Washington Hotel in Shinjuku, Japan early in the morning. There was no such thing as "early" check-in for the hotel so we had no choice but to leave our luggage at the hotel with three long hours to kill. Usually this would not be a problem for me but having just spent more than 12 hours travelling, all I wanted to do was check into my room, get a hot shower and a little relaxi-taxi before exploring the city!

Unfortunately, thanks to the no early check-in policy, B and I together with the three friends travelling with us had to reluctantly start exploring the city at the ungodly morning hour of 10am! Back home, I wouldn't be up at this hour but hey, I was on vacation so I guess a change was necessary.

After walking around aimlessly for twenty minutes, we were relieved to discover a nearby Starbucks; practically the only familiar sight so far! I so needed my coffee especially since I did not sleep the whole night and day prior to our flight from Malaysia. I did not sleep on the plane either. So our very first stop upon arriving in Japan was none other than everybody's beloved coffee place, Starbucks!

Coffee time at good old Starbucks!

I love coffee, don't you? In fact I just started my day and am having my first cup for the day. Coffee keeps me sane and I seriously can't and refuse to function normally unless I get my cuppa of love first. Addicted you say? Definitely!

One of the things I loved about Japan was the abundance of drink vending machines, scattered everywhere throughout the cities. There were all sorts of cool vending machines at every corner, which was so interesting to see. My favourite vending machines are the coffee machines of course. If you're a huge coffee lover like me, you'll definitely be spoiled for choice with the many different types of coffee available in a single machine. I'd spend at least two minutes deciding what to have and B will always have to remind me to make up my fickle mind already!

Coffee and more coffee

I think I had coffee every day while I was in Japan. That's nothing new you might say, but it was simply because I had the luxury of choosing a different type of coffee at each vending machine that caught my eye! And trust me, there were plenty to choose from. Mariuca was in coffee haven for a week!

And speaking of coffee, have you seen the new Keurig Single Cup Coffee Maker yet? Available in black and white, you will enjoy FREE delivery, FREE shipping and FREE K-Cups when you make your purchase. Flavoured coffees are also available like my favourite New Orleans Style French Vanilla and Double Chocolate! Apparently suitable for home-offices especially, I am totally enticed by this new cool coffee maker. I'm going to check it out now; feel free to do the same, if you're a coffee lover like me that is!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

MONICA
DEBBS
NESSA

MM - Black or White by Michael Jackson! *

2009-06-29T19:24:00.005+08:00

My Music Monday post is here! I'm late but I'm still participating this week so YAY! And of course this week's Music Monday will not be complete if I did not give another warm tribute to our Pop King whose untimely death last week is still the hottest news on TV.

I love this song from Michael Jackson and I also love Adam Lambert's version, so am having both Black or White music videos here, for your listening pleasure and mine too! Happy MM everybody and let's all give a proper goodbye to MJ with lotsa love and loving memories in our hearts for the one and only King of Pop!

MARIUCA LOVES

We Are The World Meme *

2009-06-28T19:31:00.011+08:00

It's been such a long time since I participated in tags and memes so Emila's tag for me could not have come at a better time. On a quest to gather the longest possible list of bloggers from all around the world, Emila has tagged me with a really cool new meme, which is too good to pass! Plus, the dolly right next to Emila, the one in green is Mariuca with B right beside, how adorable is that? Of course I have to join such a cute fun meme!

And it's really simple too so everyone should have some fun and spread love around the world with this We Are The World meme. I am inviting my friends LJ, Monica, Ane, Bem Bem, Debbs, Shemah, Kim, Roxy, Bill, Mize, Metz, Blue, Foong, ECL, Janice, Jean, Rozie, Bokjae, LR and everyone who would like to join me in this quest. Let's do this peeps and have fun!

*Start Copy Here*

You do not have to be tagged to play along. The game is simple and so are the rules.

1. Copy from *Start Copy Here* through *End Copy Here*

2. Add your site(s) to the list. Just be sure to post at each site you add.

3. Tag as many bloggers as you like so the list keeps on growing.

4. Let me know your blog’s name and url by leaving me a comment HERE. I will add you to the master list.

5. Come back and copy the master list back to your site, often. This process will allow late-comers to get as much link benefit as the first ones in.

We Are The World Bloggers Master List:

1. Emila Yusof 2. The Other Side of Emila 3. Mariuca 4. Mariuca’s Perfume Gallery 5. Meow Diaries 6. Unlisted One 7. Spiff, the Spaceman 8. My Sweet Escape 9. Nota Nurul 10. Life’s Tapestry 11. Spontaneous Insignificancy 12. LadyJava 13. Miss Igorota 14. AnnyBoo 15. Yoon See 16. Jia’s Life 17. Nessa’s Mumblings 18. Also Mommy 19. The Walk of Life 20.Pretty Firefly 21. Untouchable EARTH 22. Baterya 23. Comedy Plus 24. Bain Cardin 25. Strawberry Milkshake 26. Turn-U-Off 27. Jom Heboh Di Sini 28. Notes by Marvic 29. Memoir Mez 30.Origena 31.Walking Newspaper 32. Nurul Aqilah 33. Bluedreamer 34. Breaking the Boundaries 35. Life According to Me 36. A Great Pleasure 37. Time Goes By 38. Kancing itu Butang 39. In my Kitchen 41. Fyzal’s Territory 40. Wiggy’s World 40. A Simple Life 41. A Taxi Ride 42. Single Life of Me 43. Little Bits of Info 44. Ode to Adrienne 45. KMP 46. Mommy’s Little Corner 47. Wondermom 48. Tom’s Place 4 Well Whatever 49. Empty Streets 50.You’re next!

*End Copy Here*

MARIUCA LOVES

DD Moved Out

2009-06-28T08:38:00.001+08:00

My friend DD who's also my neighbour moved out of our condo home last Saturday. It feels like the end of an era knowing that she'll no longer be directly above my unit. I've never had a friend staying so close to me so I'm going to miss DD and family of course. If previously I felt much comforted by the fact that a really close buddy was always within reach, it is now just me and her new tenants which are supposedly moving in today.

I spoke to DD earlier in the month and she mentioned house-hunting for a new home then. As a doting mom to an adorable 2-year old, DD needed more space for her growing son and the 2+1 condo unit she previously occupied just doesn't cut it. Her son Ali is so active and her last visit to my home saw her constantly on her feet; chasing after Ali as he explored every corner of my home!

Though she moved to another house nearby and within the same location, I will definitely miss having DD around. B and I wish her all the best in her new home and we will definitely visit once she's settled in. I still owe her son a gift from Japan and honestly, I am excited to see her new place. I bet it's huge and knowing just how cautious she is, I'm sure DD has already installed a reliable Home Security System. With the number of violent robberies and break-ins we read about in the papers every day, one can never be too careful and a good Security System is now a must in all homes.

A system like ADT Home Security is easy-to-use with low monthly fees so that's a great home security system to go with. With well-trained security professionals guarding your home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from one of 4 interconnected monitoring centers, everyone can rest easy with ADT.

Well, I'd love to dwell more on this system but I have to get ready to go out soon. I am an early bird this lovely Sunday as we'll be catching Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen at 11am. I haven't slept the whole night in anticipation of this must-watch sensation. I have a feeling it's gonna be awesome and it's been a while since I had some caramel popcorn so today ought to be wonderful!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

NESSA
SHEMAH
HAAZIQ

TV Time!

2009-06-27T08:41:00.003+08:00

I can't remember the last time I indulged in my favourite TV soap, the Bold and the Beautiful. Yes, Mariuca is a big fan and I've been following this series since day one. It feels funny to not be in the loop with the latest B&B story and I know there's plenty to catch up on.

Work has kept me busy and blogging too. It's hard juggling work and blogging and all the other things related to maintaining an active constantly-updated site but I've been striving to do my best especially these last two months. And that means I've missed out on two whole months of watching the beautiful B&B cast clawing at each other or relentlessly swapping partners like an everyday affair!

I miss seeing my hunky Ridge Forrester (Ron Moss) in action. He's born to be a soap star, that's all I can say! Tall dark and handsome, Ridge can do no wrong in my eyes, no matter how corny or ridiculous his character evolves in the story!

And there's also my favourite female character Taylor (Hunter Tylo) who I think is simply beautiful. Truly she is my idol when it comes to beautiful celebrities. I adore Taylor and she too will always have my support on B&B. Perfect Taylor with every strand of hair always in place; she makes me cringe at such beauty and she only gets more beautiful with age!

And this one here is Katie Logan (Heather Tom) and she is my least favourite in the story. In fact I can't stand her character! She gets me all riled up with her so-called innocent ways when we all know just how evil and annoying she really is!

Ahhhhhhh I definitely miss watching B&B on TV and I seriously need to schedule some TV time for me soon. I need and I want to catch up on all that I've been missing in the rich and glamorous world of the Forresters. I may not have Direct TV but there are still many other shows on regular TV that I love watching and B&B is high on my list of must-watch shows.

And speaking of Direct TV, I know some of you are keen on learning more about enjoying DirectTV in your home, so feel free to click on the link here. For only $34.99 a month, you will be able to enjoy over 150 DirecTV channels for your viewing enjoyment. Have a wonderful weekend everybody!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

MONICA
ANE
DEBBS

Demise of World Icon Michael Jackson ***

2009-06-27T02:29:00.006+08:00

I got the surreal news early yesterday morning, barely an hour after my friend Rita sent out a tweet with the news that Michael Jackson had suffered a cardiac arrest and was in critical condition. Almost immediately, the whole world was abuzz with the news that the ultimate King of Pop had suffered an untimely death in the midst of preparing for his comeback tour next month. I can't recall the time of the tweets. But that's how it is when something so shocking occurs and you lose all feeling and thoughts in that one particular moment in time; wishing that time stood still so you won't have to go on with tomorrow.

Born on August 29 just like me, Michael Jackson kicked off his musical career as the lead singer of the Jackson 5. A phenomenon like none other, Michael Jackson continued a successful solo career to emerge as an iconic superstar worldwide. I have no doubts when I say that the whole world is in tears at the nation of never seeing our one and only King of Pop ever again. I initially wanted to pay a tribute to MJ in my upcoming Music Monday post. But throughout the day, there was a feeling of emptiness within me and I know I'd feel incomplete and won't rest easy without paying respect to the fallen one today.

I'll always remember him for his music and his antics as well as the controversies. Even when MJ was accused of child sexual abuse, I was secretly rooting for him. The media made him out to be a sad miserable man but I'd like to think of him as a talented artist who changed the way everybody looked at music when he won a record of 8 awards in the 1984 Grammy Awards. I don't perceive MJ as mean or wacko or eccentric as the media claims. Like I always tell B ... MJ is just a poor misunderstood soul.

I am leaving you with my favourite tune I Want You Back from the Jackson 5. The first and second video features this hit song with the second one a remix version of MJ singing the same song, as a kid. I couldn't resist including a third video, one of N Sync and MJ dancing it off on stage! No matter how freaky his appearance seems to get, MJ remains oh so sexy when he performs!

We want you back Michael so come on people, let's give it up for our King of Pop! Rest in peace MJ and we'll always love you!

MARIUCA LOVES

A Little Home Shopping

2009-06-26T06:35:00.002+08:00

Last night, B and I headed to Harvey Norman at our favourite shopping centre IKANO specifically to get an air cooler for our home. It's been scorching hot for more than a month and after much discussion, we decided an air cooler would be simpler and cheaper to while away this current heat wave.

We already had a model in mind and I was excitedly anticipating a cool night of watching DVD in my living-room with our new portable air cooler. We wanted one with wheels to make it easier for us to push it around our home, wherever needs cooling. Unfortunately, Harvey Norman was all out of the model we wanted and there was no indication when the new stock would arrive. The salesperson claimed he sold the last model just a few minutes ago. Just my luck!

I was quite taken with the home theater speaker system package on sale too. From bookshelf and satellite to in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, it was a massive affair. We've never had a home theater system and I'm referring to the whole works; complete with speakers and subwoofers for maximum impact so I was a little enticed!

The set that caught my eye would be perfect for our cosy condo unit. Instead of box speakers, we could opt for high-quality in-wall and in-ceiling lines, which can be used as front speakers due to their unique angled driver configuration. It looked easy enough to install and I was almost sold until B reminded me of our actual purpose to Harvey Norman and that was to get an air cooler and not a home theater system!

I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to buy our air cooler or the cool home theater set but we didn't go home empty-handed. I made a quick stop at the new Durian Pancake stall I recently discovered and even bought a Milk Tea Ice Blended Bubble Tea for good measure. Have you tried the Durian Pancake yet? The durian wrap is filled with delicious cream and durian filling...sinfully yummy!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

LADYJAVA
DEBBS
SHEMAH

I Need a Maid!

2009-06-24T17:55:00.008+08:00

It's cleaning day here at Mariuca's and after the vacuuming and laundry and mopping, all I can say is ... I need a house maid! Why do house chores seem never-ending, especially when I have so many other things to do aside from cleaning all afternoon like poor Cinderella? Where is my Fairy Godmother to make it all go away and let me relax in a spic and span home, without having to lift a finger?

The closest thing to a Fairy Godmother I'd ever come across would probably be Drapery Cleaning Dallas or Dalworth. I hear Dalworth has a solid reputation for quality service. And quality is exactly up my alley; I can't stand shoddy work, which is why I always have to do things myself if I want to get them right! I did have my mom's maid over a couple of times to help me clean, but I ended up doing more work than she did instead of merely supervising.

Efficiency is hard to come by nowadays but Dalworth guarantees satisfaction especially when it comes to carpet and tile cleaning. With three very fluffy cats, I really should not bother having carpets at home. Nonetheless, I still have one in my home-office and another in the bedroom. They're really hard to clean after my cats shed their fur there! Naughty kitties; good thing Master loves ya!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

LADY JAVA
NESSA
SHEMAH

Which Asian Country Should You Visit? **

2009-06-24T07:21:00.003+08:00

It's been a while since I had a Blogthings quiz here and I found the most appropriate one for me this cool Wednesday morning. According to Blogthings, the Asian country I should travel to is ... Japan LOL!

Streets of Shinjuku

I could not resist posting this one seeing just how accurate the result is for me. Have fun with this one peeps and do share your results with me. I'd love to know your Asian travel destination too. Have a great day!

You Should Travel to Japan

From freak sightings in Harajuku to awesome sashimi, you'll love Japan.

And who knows? You might end up on Japanese TV!

What Asian Country Should You Visit?

MARIUCA LOVES

Crystal Singing Bowl for Me Please!

2009-06-24T03:48:00.002+08:00

I need a Crystal Singing Bowl and I want it now!

Yeah, Mariuca is in a demanding mood and insists on peace and quiet tonight! My baby cat Phoebe is "in the mood" again and for the past four days, she's been meowing and shrieking like no tomorrow. She is driving me up the wall with all the noise she's been making, day and night!

To make matters worse, I spotted a Mr. L (Lizard) yesterday and those who know me well will surely understand my fear of being trapped with a slimy Mr. L lurking around inside my home; waiting for the right moment to appear and pounce on me!

All this plus my new technical translation job, which seems never-ending, is stressing me out! What I need right this minute is the soothing sound of Crystal Singing Bowls to soothe my weary soul as I escape into a whole new world of pure relaxation.

Made from 99.9 percent pure quartz crystal, Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls make a wonderful therapy in terms of healing and meditation. Did you know that our bodies are also composed of a crystalline structure, which is why crystals are a key element in many different holistic medicine healing practices. Emitting the sweetest of soothing tones, these Crystal Singing Bowls helps to relieve mental and physical ailments; diffusing them out of your system; allowing you to relax and heal mentally. It also serves as a great relaxer for standard daily meditation and deep relaxation, which is exactly what I am in dire need of tonight!

Do you have a crystal singing bowl? Care to loan it to me for a week?

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

MONICA
LADYJAVA
SHEMAH

May Top 10 Mariucans **

2009-06-23T04:34:00.006+08:00

I think I'm slowly but surely getting my groove back, starting with 3 new posts I wrote yesterday at Wishing on a Falling Star. I hope this means my posting frenzy is also back; it was fun to see just how much I could blog in a month, so we'll see what happens after this post.

Again, I have to extend my sincere apologies to my Top 10 Mariucans for this very late posting of who made it to Mariuca's much-coveted list in May. It was a special month too with the crowning of my very first KING here at WOAFS! If previously, the Mariuca throne has been consistently dominated by my female fans and commenting Queens, the month of May brought new heights of excitement in the commenting forum here with Bem Bem from Spontaneous Insignificancy leading by a mile with a final count of 127 comments.

Thank you for all your comment love here King Bem and without further ado, let's celebrate the crowning of a brand new King here at Wishing on a Falling Star. I present to you the almighty King Bem with the Majestic King of May Award!

CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU

Bem Bem - Majestic King of May Award + 1000 EC credits + 1 FOC Ad
Monica - 500 EC credits
Ane - 250 EC credits

Top Mariucan Overall
Bem Bem - 1000 EC credits + 1 FOC Ad

Top First Commenter
Monica - 1000 EC credits + 1 FOC Ad

MARIUCA LOVES