Arrica Lee.com

We've MOVED to Major Whoa

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:31:00 +0000

For the fifth or more time, we have moved(again) to Wordpress.org because of domain issues as well as theme management problems. Forgive me(again) for the nomadic life of my sites. I hope this time it would be more permanent than before.

Long story cut short, just click on and discover my new site, Major Whoa, hosted using Wordpress.org. Thank God it is much faster than Wordpress.com.

P/S: This blog will be closed down in a week.

Get on Tumblr NHAO!

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:34:00 +0000

Seriously. Guys, you should join me and board the Tumblr ship. Tumblr is the in thing now. Natasha, Siew Thong, Jeremy...guys, get a Tumblr now. I would really like to follow you guys there. And I would like to like your posts and talk to you guys from there. And reblog your fantastic posts! I feel so alone to be the only SMKSS there. And, of course I want to follow you guys as well( and for you guys to follow me back *blush*)!

It is simple. Just that five thing: text, photo, link, video and chat. Although the dashboard loads a bit slower la(if your speed is slow, then too bad lo =[ ) but everything else is fantastic. Remember join ya...and let me know so I can be the first to look(and follow!).

P/S: And you better follow me ahhh...my Tumblr is....iminlalaland.com. The follow button is on the blog(top right). Or you can go to your Following page and put in my URL(iminlalaland.com) or username(iminlalaland) or email address(arrica.lee@gmail.com)

P/S/S: Eh, Blogger, don't be angry. I am promoting Tumblr here la but I will still maintain ArricaLee.com under Blogger(be a good boy. REWARD us).

Class Profile

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 09:46:00 +0000

A lot has happened since the last time I post, which is...gasp...12 days ago. Yeah, sorry for the inactivity. You know how much I am into Tumblr. I am way more addicted into Tumblr than yeah...Blogger. Perhaps it's because it's super convenient, the dashboard's fantastic and my followers are super nice.

Anyway, I had a mixture of good and bad events last week. I felt extremely stressed up about Editorial Board and go all emo about it. Yeah, something happened internally. I am not willing to share it now because you know, walls have ears and all that.

I have been really busy handling the class profile as well. I am one of the erm...'designers' should I call it? Hah, I have never really thought of designing anything because I am terrible in it. Well, since we have 5 pages, it is impossible(and not really nice) to leave it all to poor Zheng Yi. So, I did one of them. This page contains random shots of me and my classmates, from Form 1 until now. Siew Thong has searched all over the Net to find pictures of our classmates. As this would appear in our school magazine, we want to maintain the formality and this took her hours to hunt down the pictures. Some of my classmates seldom take pictures with the others thus making it hard for her to search.

However, I am very irritated and annoyed by some of my classmates who only know how to complain when they themselves did nothing to contribute to the class profile. They whine and demand why there are so little pictures of them in the page(11 pictures out of 48. Is that considered little? Some only have two because we couldn't find their pictures!). And I have a few reasons to stand my points:

1. He/She does not take picture with other classmates.
2. He/She keeps deleting the picture as soon as it is taken.
3. He/She will certainly complain and demand to know why we put an ugly picture of her(hello? How are we supposed to know that it's ugly for you?)
4. He/ She does not own a facebook, thus making it difficult for Siew Thong to search for his/her pictures.
5. Most of the pictures weren't taken in school attire or for school purposes, thus not illegible to be published in school magazine.
6. Blurry images will spoil the page.
7. When one is good looking, others are not in that picture. So, it is once again, dismissed.
8. There are 44 of us in class. We can't satisfy everyone.

It is clearly disappointing that some people can be such b*tches. I mean, it's OK if you help out by finding sponsors or at least, give some ideas. But no, this irritating species didn't even contribute any single thing. This group just sit there, shake leg and expect everything to be done by us. They have no right to complain.

This is just a class profile. Why must they raise such a big issue out of it? Just get over it. We have 5 pages. Your face will be everywhere. Stop complaining, scolding and cursing the three of us in Facebook. If you are so clever, why don't you make one and see? Let's see whether you can fit in all 44 of us in there with equal amount of pictures.

The Truth about Brangelina

noreply@blogger.com (Bethany North) — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:32:00 +0000

If you have been following the Brad and Angelina drama since day one, then you are in luck for some juicy gossip. It seems that tabloids everywhere are speculating that this couple is heading for trouble, even with Brad being the wonderful dad that he is.

It seems that the family loves to spend their time together bonding in their master bedroom, where they can relax during the midst of their parent’s busy schedules. Due to their highest profile celebrity careers, the kids are taken all over the globe as often as possible. This means that teachers and nannies have to come along with them as well, so they always have to travel with an entourage.

Brad reveals that he likes to take his time to unwind the male way - by driving fast cars and motorcycles. He also is a guitar lover and owns several of these elusive Taylor guitars. It also seems that Angelina is not much of a housewife when it comes to cooking with her best dish creation so far being cereal. This means that the family spends much of their time driving through fast food places to squeeze in a meal, like McDonald's.

So that is the basic synopsis of the life of these busy celebrities, but even more tabloids seem to be reporting that they are heading for trouble. Of course, it's difficult to know who to believe when it comes to the media, although the couple seems to be trying to portray a happy family image. With that many kids in the mix, it seems almost unfair if they were to split up, but the paparazzi is trying to do the best that they can to portray them in a negative light. Are you still on Team Jolie? Or is it now Team Aniston?

For a great selection of coffee makers Bunn, check out Bethany North's website, The Coffee Bump.

Confessions of A Non-Football Kaki

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:59:00 +0000

*Yawn* I am sure many of you must be feeling super tired now. I know, the 'season' is here. Your routine has to be reorganized so that you can sneak in some football time into your schedule. I don't blame you for this as I know...this happens once every four years.

I have a friend who bought a new flat screen 50 inch plus plus TV just to watch the World Cup. He said that he has been saving up since four years ago. He can now enjoy football at his own territory, instead of listening to the blabbering of the drunkards in the pub. FYI, football-to him, it's like watching a movie. He would buy a few months' supply of popcorn and treat them like you know...Häagen-Dazs ice cream. Then, when the match starts, he will grab one and indulge himself into the game. Try talking to him. Try poking him. Try smacking him. Try boxing him. He will never...never leave his couch.

And what does football season means to us, ladies? OK, maybe not for all the ladies out there. But I love football season because the road will be less congested(morning), emptier shopping malls(morning), etc. etc. For wives, it means more sleeping space, easier to negotiate(call him to sign a check the next morning after he watched football and sees what he says), etc. etc. I have a friend who keeps complaining that her boyfriend ignores her during the football season. Oh, well...poor you. Look on the bright side and sees what football can do to you. It's time to get a few days off from your boyfriend and try to do something without him by your side. After all, that's what they said, "The further you are from each other, the fonder you grow towards each other'.

Me, on the contrary, will not stay up late to watch football. I will...stay up late until 2am for Internet but football, uh-uh no. Don't get me wrong. It's not that I hate foot ball but it's not like I am playing. Whether I stay up late or not, it doesn't really matter because if they win, I get nothing. If they lose, I can't change the results for them. I don't feel like bringing misery to bed with me. I can always get the results online.

But, I will probably stay up late for the grand finale. I think I will support Brazil and Germany. Of course, England and Portugal too. So, which country do you support?

Iphone or Blackberry

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:51:00 +0000

I am drooling over mobiles again. I know I shouldn't. I have changed my mobile so often I think mum is shooting me arrows already. Aahhh, but who can resist IPhone 4? No, the main thing is who can resist a mobile studded in crystals. Not ordinary market 'last-1-day' crystals. This one is made with over 1500 individual Swarovski crystals and lightweight chrome base. Doesn't that sound like a treat?

Have I told you guys I am thinking of blinging my mobile? I am still thinking about it, you know. Considering the cost of the bling bling and of course whether I can manage it or not. I don't want to end up with an ugly, messy mobile. And then, another problem would be my Sony Ericsson XPeria is not suitable for me to bling because I don't want to ruin its smooth cover. Aiks, so many to think about!

This mobile thing have been driving me crazy, just so you know. I currently have someone I work online with who wants to sponsor me a mobile so that we can keep in touch(through emails, chat messengers and calls) internationally(he's paying the cost so hurray!). He asks me to choose a mobile from Blackberry or IPhone.

I have been thinking to get a Blackberry. It's very stylish and professional. Since I need to check my emails regularly for my business purposes, Blackberry would be ideal to check emails on the go. And black is so my color! However, most of them have full QWERTY keyboard which I don't really like because it would be really hard to put them on my pocket(in case I am on lazy mode when I am shopping,etc.). I don't like touchscreen either. I am actually sick of my LG Arena because I have such a hard time pressing them.

IPhone would be great, considering the amount of apps on they have. It's certainly tempting since everyone has been talking about it and then this! CrystalRoc. But, like I said, I don't like touchscreen. I would like to avoid them as much as I can.

See? Tough, isn't it? Someone, please help me out! It would be great to find a mobile that can accomodate my needs. Like, no touchscreen(slide-out QWERTY keyboard is fine, but haiz...I would like to avoid that. Bulkiness is my current enemy), smartphone would be great, price I don't care(because I am not the one paying. Haha), one that have shortcuts to chat messenger(since that's his wish), good camera(for my needs. LOL!), what else?

But on the other hand, I don't feel like changing my mobile either. Will using two mobiles cost a bunch? Maybe I will discuss with this 'boss' of mine and see if he can go with my Sony Ericsson XPeria. I am sick of changing mobiles anyway.

Do You Need a Wedding Detox?

noreply@blogger.com (Bethany North) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:20:00 +0000

No, I'm not talking about a break from weddings, but I am talking about detoxifying yourself as a bride-to-be. The interesting thing to remember is that your skin can often experience serious issues simply because of the toxins in your body. If you want to literally look glowing and radiant as you walk down the aisle, here are some of the best detoxification ideas to prepare you for your wedding day.

Basically, detoxification is a process that rids the body of waste and toxins. There are internal toxins produced within the body and external toxins, which come from food, water, and pollution. If you're interested in a pre-wedding detoxification, you can use special regimens from a health food store or your doctor to stimulate the natural detoxification process in your body. This will help the body to cleanse itself so that you can look and feel your best. Of course, it's also important to eat well, hydrate, and exercise regularly for the best results.

When it comes to simple steps for your pre-wedding detoxification, here is where to begin:

• Eat a high fiber diet. This includes fresh vegetables and fruits without any type of processed foods. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, and drink filtered water.
• Stop using heavy chemicals within your personal care products. It is best to use natural products that do not contain chemical ingredients that can penetrate your skin.
• Balance your nutrition. Start balancing your diet with antioxidants, vitamins, amino acids, probiotics, and digestive enzymes to give you the best results.
• Exercise regularly. This includes cardiovascular and weight resistant exercises so that you can build muscle mass and stimulate the lymphatic flow within your body to push out toxins.

These steps will get you started, and I promise that detoxification is one of the best things that you can do when it comes to a legitimate Bridal Bootcamp to prepare for your wedding day!

For a great selection of the Bunn Coffee Makers, check out Bethany North's website, The Coffee Bump.

Get ready To Be Grossed Out By These Ads!

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:36:00 +0000

"If you are not terrified by these ads, if your heart doesn't feel a thing, then these ads are not real ads after all."

Be prepared to board the Arrica Lee Express. Destination Horror. Destination 2 Gross. OK, I picked that up from Sue Slyvester(Glee) but I am dead serious when I say BE PREPARED. Hurry up and hold on tight because you are to going to view the most terrifying advertisements ever.

OMG. The sight of those bloody cockroaches already make me shiver. Oh, you poor baby.

WTF! &#&T$ HIIIIYAAA. BUUP. *punch* *kick*

I always have a soft spot for animals and I believe no one has the right to kill them. NO ONE.

OK...eww.

Child abuse. So common. So ruthless. So heartless.

Verbal abuse. I saw it once. In school. Very terrifying.

Never. Kiss. A. Smoker.

Mask, Cleansers and A New Look

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:23:00 +0000

Saturday. I have to look good on Saturday. I just have to. Dad, Mum, Sis and I. We are going to the studio (or shop, whichever doesn’t matter) and I will be sitting(or standing, whichever doesn’t matter), clueless as ever, looking right at the camera, thinking “Smile or show a serious expression?”, “Should I make a cute poses?”, *click* *click*.

It will be so paiseh. I mean, I don’t really like the idea of letting other people snapping my pictures because I feel very awkward. I don’t like them, boring their eyes into my photo and start LOLing inside. Although most of time I will just say IDGAF, but I still don’t like it when people start talking about how I should look, what I should have wore, what posture I should have made. Call me sensitive but I believe all the girls out there are sensitive when it comes to fashion and looks.

I don’t want my face to look like a damsel in distress since I think; my photo will be pasted in my passport for maybe...forever? So I decided I should seek my ‘beautician’s’ advice. And of course, that will be my sister. Her fair complexion makes Snow White cringe, her fabulous cute posture (which I don’t really like because I am not that type of See-I-am-cute-date-me kinda’ girl) makes Cinderella jealous. So I am thinking of a way to bribe her into changing my look.

I can already guess what she will obviously say. “IMHO, I think you should get rid of your pimples(*roll up her eyes*), freckles(*purse her lips*). Your hair. Urgh. Needs a major uplift. And your eyebags! And puhleease…when will you start putting on some makeup? You have to work on your expression. Why must you smile like that?” *faint*. Who wants to hire her as your beautician? Go ahead and she will appear in your nightmare every single night.

Her advices might sound preposterous but it might work. For a start, I know I have three more days before the big day comes so I will probably put on some SK II (If I can steal some from Mum. *evil grin*), apply lotsa’ cleansers. Yes, that’s what I should do. Luckily, I am still in my holiday mood, so I am sure something good will comes out of this. Don’t you think so?

Bet you want to see my new look, don’t cha? Be ready for some fingers licking pictures of the newly transformed Arrica Lee on Saturday. And sis, don’t pull down my confidence string or you know what I will do…

My Plan For These Two Weeks?

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 04:05:00 +0000

The mid-term holidays are finally here. So, have you guys been celebrating? I know I celebrated last Friday, in my own way. Part of me is happy to get the two weeks off, but part of me relented because deep inside, I know, "Nah, I still have to study."

OK, I don't want to spoil your holiday mood with my study mode. I am sure you are struggling to motivate yourself between play and games as well. Believe me, the temptation to just sleep, eat and play is there and it is irresistible. I guess I am lucky, my mum will never let me go out of her sight.

So, what's my plan for this holiday? Well, there are a few things I wish to accomplish:

1. Enjoy my last school holidays. I know I will not be free after this holiday because I will be pushing myself off the cliff by studying real real real real hard. Then, next year, hopefully, if my plan works, I might be going to college. Time passes real fast.

2. Study everything I could. I know I am not good in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Add Math. So, I have to work on those. I have made my bed so now I have lay on it even if it contains a thousand thorns. I think I am going to abandon Moral, BM, English and History for now.

3. Learn how to photoshop correctly and professionally. Of course, I am not going to photoshop my face. I am more than proud of my face! Just...you know, trying to prepare myself before I make my first trip next year to Bali. :D I am sure photoshop will make my landscape pictures look nicer.

4. Finish all my novels. OMG, I have like more than 20 books I still haven't touch. I have to try reading them, if not...my mind will not rest.

That's all my plans for now. The first one would be easy to achieve because that's what I have been doing for the past two days. So, peps. I will go now and start working on the second one. I will be back with good news. Just wait and see.

Why Reality TV Shows are So Popular?

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:14:00 +0000

Short and simple, reality TV shows are so popular because they are like a car wreck; you can’t look away. There is always the suspense that someone will make a complete and utter fool of themselves and that’s what we love. We love to see other people acting stupid because it reassures us that we ourselves are smarter than them. We love to see people at real moments because it reinforces the fact that our real moments aren’t so drastically different than others. We love to see other people doing anything in which there’s a case they might crash and burn because frankly, it’s entertaining. Indeed, DISH Americareality TV shows are so popular because they all have drama… and we love drama.

The fact of the matter is that television shows that aren’t a reality series are not as easy to get emotionally involved with as reality shows are. When we are watching real people live their real lives, we are able to really connect with them on an emotional level. No longer is it the story of two characters in a play but rather your close friends, Simon and Randy or Snooki and Pauly D.

There’s something charming and mystifying about being able to watch life unscripted. Especially because there are reality TV shows that cover just about every aspect of life. Keeping Up With The Kardashians, for example, displays the dysfunctional life of a rich, famous and beautiful family. It’s a perfect setting to gather together a slew of scenes that include drama, intrigue, laughter, tears and sometimes even shock and awe.

There’s The Bachelor, which shows one man on a quest to find love amongst a sea of women all competing for his hand. A type of series like this is incredibly appealing to the majority of Americans who are all looking for a soul mate of their own. Again, its vast success can thank the combination of beautiful people who are doing what we all want to do – choose from a sea of other beautiful people to spend the rest of forever with, (wistful sigh). Of course, not everyone is a romantic which is why there are competition reality series such as Survivor. People are lying, cheating and stealing their way to the top and audiences for twenty seasons have absolutely loved it. The Biggest Loser is a reality series that encourages good health and making life changing decisions to lose weight. Each of the reality TV shows appeal to a certain crowd but all for the same reason: people love to watch real people unscripted.
Chris Dayley is an student at Utah Valley University with a major in Marketing. He currently works as an internet marketing consultant, specializing in Search Engine Optimization

Are You Secretly Unhealthy?

noreply@blogger.com (Bethany North) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:00:00 +0000

There is nothing more stressful than dieting and dieting and dieting, only to have your pants remain the same size. If you have had that same frustration, then there are probably several seemingly "healthy" foods that are the culprit in causing you to foil your weight-loss efforts!

• Sushi: Did you know that eating too much sushi could actually cause you to get fat? Of course, the seaweed and veggies are absolutely low-calorie, but many of the customized sushi rolls have mayo or cream cheese, which can leave you add more than 500 or 600 calories per roll. Put down the chopsticks.
• Dried Fruit: Since dried fruit does not contain any moisture, it can have up to five times more calories than fresh fruit! If you were to eat a cup of grapes, it would be 60 calories, and a cup of raisins is actually 460 calories. Astounding!
• Granola: Who ever thought that granola would be the culprit of weight gain? However, many commercial brands of granola have added oil and sugar to make them taste better, so a single bowl could have as much as 500 calories.
• Half-and-Half: If you are adding just a little bit of cream to your coffee, it may seem absolutely harmless. However, a few spoonfuls of full fat half-and-half several times per day could add as much as 200 extra calories to your daily diet!
• Bottled Tea: If you are drinking a store bought bottled iced tea, it could be full of honey and sugar, which will dramatically increase the calorie count. A single bottle has several servings, so you could get as much as 200 extra calories within one bottle of iced tea.

So what is a girl to do? If you are hoping to get ready for swimsuit season, then be smarter in your calorie choices, no matter how "healthy" a food may seem...

For a great selection of the Pasquini Livia 90, check out Bethany North's website, The Coffee Bump.

How Do You Like Wearing A Computer On Your Hand?

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Mon, 31 May 2010 07:38:00 +0000

It seems like a dream come true. A dream every geek has been waiting for. Yes, in 2020, you can bring your computer anywhere and by this I mean, anywhere. In 2020, you just have to wear this bracelet, and there you go, you can use the computer to check emails, play games, surf the Net. Of course, it is touchscreen-convenient, easy.

Sony Alpha SLR Takes My Breath Away

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Sun, 30 May 2010 02:28:00 +0000

Camera is as important to me as let's see...my mobile and my laptop. Yes, I can't live without these three gadgets. Like a shopaholic, every time I grab something new, I would be satisfied for like, two weeks. Then when better, newer products are on the racks, I will start drooling and pinching myself for either" a) not having enough money to get it or b) why did I bought that camera?.

Frankly, I am yearning to buy all the gadgets on Earth because they are just so fun! I guess it just runs in my veins that I am more into gadgetry than dresses and make ups(I am into necklaces though). So, let's take a look at this new Sony camera model. It is Alpha of course for those who are not familiar with ISO and Histogram.

via Yanko Design

Floating Apartment Complex-How Do Like That, Huh?

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Sat, 29 May 2010 05:36:00 +0000

This sounds so cool. Don't you think living in a house, surrounded by blue is so frigging awesome? I mean, you can just look out of your window and watch the sea creatures(not that there are many out there with pollution and everything) jump around in glee?

Now, we are talking about Citadel- floating eco-city. You can breathe a sigh of relief. It's eco-awesome. Nothing to worry about getting the sealands extinct or global warming. Although I can't 100% guarantee the accuracy of my sources, but from what I heard, it is nature friendly and will not affect our greens. Instead, we might be heading to a new direction in instilling nature awareness in people.

Back to Citadel. It's scheduled to begin its constructions last March and things are getting pretty warmed up the last time I search so keep your energy hyped up and save up to buy this gorgeous apartment. Oh, by the way, it is in Europe. So, I guess you have to save up for the migration process as well.

Now, let's take a look at your future house:

Credits: Beautiful Life

Happy Birthday, Dad!

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:04:00 +0000

Before I fill you in on my Dad's birthday, Glee was fantastic! I am now a fan of Glee, its music and Cory...he is so...good looking. Well,, maybe not as yummylicious as Taylor Lautner, but he will make a good pair with Taylor number 2.

I have planned it a few weeks ago, to put in a surprise for Dad. Since sis and I have made a CD for mum during Mother's Day, we decided to do something better this time around. That's when this 'Prepare Breakfast' thing pop into my head. Yeah, I know. I could have been more creative. This is like...so common but I think this is something he will truly like and appreciate and I have a hidden message too. Mum, I know you will tell this to Dad.

Dad prepares the breakfast for us every day. I am embarrassed to say this but yes, he does everything:from preparing the food to stirring to milk(milo for sis). He wakes up early to do this every single day, without fail. Although sometimes, he overslept and I have to knock the door to wake him up, he will still prepare breakfast for sis and I without a whine.

This has become a routine for Dad for 17 years and so, this time, we would like to turn the table and make breakfast for him instead. We took a long time to decide the menu. I am sure he took a long time to think of what breakfast we should have every morning. We took 2 weeks to think of one. We woke up early, like him. Now, I realized how strenuous to wake up early to make breakfast.

I woke up at 7am and nudged sis too. It is always hard to get her to wake up. Then, we head on to the kitchen. Sis prepared the sausages first while I prepare myself for accounts tuition at 8am. Then, I prepared the breads. I spread the margarine on the bread and put in the sausages. Sis even think of a very good idea: to brew a cup of coffee for Dad!

When Dad came out of his room, I know he is happy. I know he is proud of us and Dad, we are proud of you too. Happy Birthday again, Dad!

I want relay the message that we will prepare breakfast for him, every day when he and mum hit the golden age. Sis and I might need some funding to learn how to cook though. If not, we will end up having breads as our breakfast every day.

Travel: Let's Dig Deep

noreply@blogger.com (Bethany North) — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:10:00 +0000

You are probably one of the many people that have an upcoming family vacation, and there is nothing more frustrating than getting slapped with tons of hidden fees when planning your trip. So how do you factor in all of the hidden expenses when it comes to travel?

• Airline Fees: This is something that causes serious headaches for so many people since your airline ticket can add on many different fees for checking your first and second bag. In fact, some airlines are charging as much as $45 for even a carry-on, so you do need to be fully aware of any extra costs that may add up. It is best to check your bags if you can, and keep in mind that you may need to pay for a taxi or shuttle going to and from the airport.

• Hotel Extras: When you're booking your hotel, some of affiliate websites may charge you a booking fee, which can add up to 20% more to your total trip. Keep in mind that if you purchase movies in your hotel room, they come at a very high price, as well as any food or drinks that are laid out in the room for your convenience. You would be much better off purchasing from a local gas station if you want to have chips or soda in your room with you.

• Car Rental: Many websites will allow you to book a bundle with your hotel, car, and flight, but there are often extra prices tacked on when it comes to your car rental. Don't be a chump in paying for extra collision and damage insurance on your rental car if you are already covered by your own insurance policy! This could cost as much as $30 extra per day when you don't need it, and you do need to make sure that you return your rental car with a full gas tank, or they may charge you a sky-high price for filling the tank for you at up to five dollars per gallon.

With these simple tips, you can be a savvy vacationer to save even more money on your upcoming family trip!

For a great selection of all things coffee, to check out Bethany North's website, click here.

I Want This On My Laptop!

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Thu, 27 May 2010 11:26:00 +0000

You know how much I love my laptop and this will really give my laptop 'the look'-the glam look. I bought a laptop skin last year but I tore it out a few months ago-ouch because I don't think it suits my laptop(talk about spending RM40 for something I don't need).

But this is something I am sure will stick on my laptop until it's last breath. This rainbow print keyboard stick-a-stick has been in the market for quite some time and it is sell able! I heard a bad news though. It is currently only available for those lansi Mac people. Ahh, when will the others enjoy the same privilege as Mac? Equal rights, people!

Sorry For My Absense From The Blogging Scene

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:32:00 +0000

I am so so so sorry for not updating these past few days. I am so busy with exams(yes, I know. We have exams almost every two months which is so frustrating) and the days seem endlessly long. Long not because I finish the test before the time given, but long because all I do during exam is stare at the question, mind blank, think harder, rethink,refresh, reboot, rethink, rethink, and write. Yes, I seem to be the slower one compare to my peers.

This week is still OK for me although today's History and Add Math almost claim my life. My God, they have no idea how much we are suffering. And to think that some idiots can just claim the tips without sharing with friends. WTH, man! They were like so absorbed into the tips that they never think about us here who struggled and study everything. Worst of all, they lied. I hate people who lied(though I do tell white lies sometimes, huhu).

Whatever la. God knows what they are doing. I will just try my best to do my best(huh?). Next week will be hectic. I will start crying I tell you. I did badly in Chemistry last exam so I have kinda' got a phobia for it now. I hope I can overcome it and erase that red ink from my card. And Biology. And Add Math. I so wanna' get out from this teen circle.

That's like my thoughts of the week. Will blog more often once the exam is over.

Fun Ideas for the Summer!

noreply@blogger.com (Bethany North) — Thu, 20 May 2010 19:48:00 +0000

Summer is upon us, so where will you be traveling for your upcoming vacation? There are quite a few hidden gems when it comes to choosing the best vacation for your budget, so here are some of the top choices to consider in the warmer season:

• Las Vegas: Las Vegas is always a wonderful place to visit, but you can actually get quite a bit of bang for your buck if you book wisely. Of course, it's always a wonderful idea to book a complete room and flight package, including a rental car if you will need one. You may be surprised to find that many of the more beautiful hotels come at affordable prices, and if you travel in the weekdays, you could even book the prestigious Bellagio Hotel for a pretty sweet deal.

• Iceland: This would be an exotic vacation in itself, and on top of that, the currency in Iceland has lost more than half of its value when up against the dollar. This means that Iceland is more affordable than ever, and you can often book beautiful and gorgeous hotels for around $150 a night. Other than that, this is a pretty exotic locale that you may not be able to visit otherwise!

• Mexico: Mexico is always a fantastic deal, especially if you live in the south so that flights are less expensive. You may want to stay away from some of the tourist traps like Cancun, but there are quite a few great deals in smaller towns like Puerto Vallarta, especially since many people have recently shied away from Mexico because of the swine flu of last year. Take advantage!

Wherever you decide to go, there are budget excursions to be had, so make sure to book wisely, in advance, and preferably on off days to get the best deal!

For a great selection of all things coffee, check out Bethany North's website thecoffeebump.com.

Teacher's Day and Malay Exam

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

I hope it is not too late to wish Happy Teachers' Day to all the teachers in SMK Sri Sentosa! I went to this year's Teachers' Day celebration in school and fortunately, this year is the best.

The MC weren't that bad la. At first they were bad but then later, they got better. One was even more sarcastic than the other. Anyway, as usual, all the lembagas have to do their performances. I personally like the prefectorial board's performance.They combined the chorus of a few famous songs in a few languages. There were Billy Jean, Lo Hon Pan, Kenangan Terindah. I think it was original and catchy.

The Librarians weren't that bad either. They had their own cool version of fashion show. Then there was this guitar performance from this Form Six guy, 'Tiru Gaya Guru' and of course, performances by the teachers themselves.

I love the BM, English and Form Six teachers' performances. The BM teachers were fantastic because they danced to the rhythm of Sorry Sorry by Super Junior, The Ketchup Song,etc. Then, there was the sukaneka which was equally interesting. I couldn't remember any more than these because obviously, it happened three days ago.

Today. OMG. You know today is my BM exam right? Paper 1 was quite easy. I was actually surprised that Pn Mazni set it so erm...frigging easy. I was like, "Sure get A!" Then as if to play a joke on me, Paper 2 was so hard, I almost bang my head on the table and cried. God, what type of questions Mr Ong is setting? He's like trying to kill all of us, man. Oh no.

Anyway, let's not talk about this sad thing. Here's one movie I feel like watching. Charlie St. Cloud(Zac Efron) and the song in 1:50 is nice. You know what's the title? Betcha' don't. It's Run by Snow Patrol.

Gotong-Royong and My Big Fat Tummy

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Sun, 16 May 2010 01:00:00 +0000

Up until this moment, I still don't know what is gotong-royong in English. How embarrassing, considering the fact that I am in the top class and my language is actually good. But, seriously la, I prefer to use the word gotong-royong. It makes me feel more Malaysian.

Initially, I don't feel like going to school because there is one particular subject which I don't really like but at the end of the day, I decided to go. I would love to clean up the class. After all, this is my last year in SMKSS. It feels like I am doing something for the school, so that satisfies me.

We had a very very very brief assembly. When I climbed back to class, I realized that only 16 out of 43 of my classmates came today. F**k, someone even FFK me. But, whatever la 'cos I have loads of fun with Natasha, Siew Thong, Faridah and my other good friends.

And since our class trend these days is playing chess, how can I miss a chance to learn how to play it? Yes, *glows red* I don't know how to play chess. I can definitely position them but other than that, I am chessdumb.

We had a History quiz as well. I managed to answer something correctly and whee, that's a pretty good feeling. It's girls VS boys.Too bad we lost.

So, the rest of the time were spent on gotong-royong. I wiped the fans, part of the windows and scrubbed the floor. It was fun. The 12-14 of us did our best to clean up the class. Everyone did their best and boy, am I proud of my class! The dedication...the cooperation...man, you have to see it yourself.

Before Natasha sent me home today, we ate chicken rice in one of the shops in Sri Petaling. Damn paiseh. Anyway, thanks Natasha and Natasha's mum, LOL! Tak cukup-cukup, I went out again with Dad and sis and joined Uncle Hoong, Aunt Wendy, Uncle Daniel, cousins as well as grandma to makan again. This time, it's dim sum.

Then, at 8pm, after sis went to her friend's birthday party to enjoy her pizza(roll up my eyes), the rest of us went to pasar malam and fuh, we filled our stomach with laksa noodles and apam balik. Now, aren't you jealous, sis? I bought a new pair of slippers. Black and white. Cool ler? I will post it later la.

Oh, ya. I bought presents for teachers. 12 of them. Sorry to some of the teachers la hah. I am on a tight budget so I couldn't give to all of you. If I didn't give you, that doesn't mean you are not my favorite teacher, okay? I <3 all the teachers okay?

So, there I am done with today's long report. You can now resume to your normal Internet activities. Thank You.

Do NOT Watch Where Got Ghost

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Fri, 14 May 2010 09:52:00 +0000

I have just watched Where Got Ghost? God, how fake can this movie be? It is as fake as 2012. No...much faker. Damn cb. I spent my 2 hours for a fake, humorless movie. To say that it is scary, it is not. To say it is funny, it is not. Agreeably one of Jack Neo's worst film. Do not watch this film and waste your time, man.

But, since this is Jack Neo's film, of course you can expect to learn a thing or two from it.

a) Investigate where our food is bought before eating. Damn frigging disgusting to eat food that people used to pray. Ewww.
b) Never poo poo in the jungle.
c) Don't believe whatever strangers say in the jungle and FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCT.
d) Be good to your mother when she is alive and still be good to your mother when she is dead.
e) What goes around comes around. You cheat people, you will be cheated as well.
f) Shortcuts come with consequences.

Jack Neo, Jack Neo, *shakes head* please direct better films. You can definitely do better than this.

Shiver, You Will Really Shiver

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Fri, 14 May 2010 09:32:00 +0000

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater has been my fateful companion for two weeks. It is indeed a very interesting and addictive novel. I can't help but agree with Stephanie Meyer that this book is a treasure!

I have been competing with my classmate who has a similar book(but different edition) to see who can finish the book first. Both being an ardent reader, it is no surprise that it is a tie. We finish it on the same day(though I have no idea the exact time we finished).

5/5 stars. That's the rating I dropped in for Shiver in Goodreads. I have not much to whine about Shiver because Stiefvater wrote it with such grace that it left me practically speechless at the end of the session. When I first picked up Shiver, my initial thoughts is,"Is this a mystery novel? A thriller?" I am not a choosy and selective reader(I even have a biographical novel of Hillary Clinton) so I devour myself into this novel.

The message conveyed through Shiver is simple, "Love knows no boundary". At 420 pages, I actually thought that the story will be lengthy and revolves around the same old tale but how wrong I was! The story has no repetitive element that bored me out, instead it contains chilling and sweet events that made me smiled and at the same time also cried.

As a werewolf fan(thanks to Jacob), I am excited to know more about it's lifestyle and how it changes from winter to spring. I am a little confused when I first read the 'change' because in Twilight, it seems like werewolf can jump around even when the sun is out.

Although the story doesn't seem real, it makes me believe nothing is impossible when you are in love. Miracles happens, and there is a solution to everything.

Overall, this book is brilliante. Grab it, people! Right now, I can't wait to read the next one in line-Linger.

The Daily Life of A Treasurer

admin@arricalee.com (Arrica Lee) — Wed, 12 May 2010 11:07:00 +0000

People always say that secretaries have the most workload. Vice-presidents have the easiest job on Earth and the committee members are useless. I beg to differ. I am standing up for all the treasurers that we have more to do compare to secretaries.

IMHO, secretaries write and mark attendance in every meeting. With the advance of technology and gadgetry, writing is no longer an issue because they only need to type it out in a breeze and print it out. They can just sit in front of the computer and complete their task. Attendance. Hah, they can just pass a paper from one member to another and call them to write down their name. That is what we do over here in some of the schools in Malaysia. Any mistakes can be corrected by pressing the DEL button on the keyboard(unless that particular secretary is 'clever' enough not to save the document).

However, a treasurer's duty is much more strenuous than that. A secretary does not depend on a treasurer, but a treasurer needs the secretary. Why? As you know, the secretary prepares the member's list. Before a treasurer can collect the fees, one has to get hold of the list first so that she can take down the particular member who paid. So, when the secretary fails to complete the name list on time, that means the treasurer's job will be on hold.

Let's say the treasurer is supposed to hand in the fees to the teacher on May. If the secretary procrastinates and gives the treasurer the name list just a week before the date is due, don't you think that is a little hectic? Don't you think the secretary deserves a whip on the butt?

As a treasurer in school, one could not just sit down and wait for the members to come and pay because as I have tried before, no one will turn up. As the saying goes, "Human will not do what they are told to do, only when they are forced to". And how can one force a member to pay? That is to meet them face to face. Make a growl, narrow your eyes and there you go, some of them will indeed pay. Some need you to find them twice so as a treasurer, I have to go from one class to another class to demand them to pay.

But not everyone appreciates and applaud the treasurers because some of the teachers will start scolding and inquiring. They just don't get the idea that treasurers in school are not paid. We, treasurers are just doing our job. We take a few minutes from your teaching, but we are missing half an hour of ours when we go around asking for money.

I guess that just reflects how disorganized schools in Malaysia are. I have been a president, vice president and treasurer for two years. Among those three, I face the most difficulties when I am a treasurer. So, people, appreciate your treasurer, listen to her and PAY UP.