Snippets

With the PSI at 155 and temperature at 33C, are you a crispy and BBQ critter now? :D

Cronut

It is half doughnut and half croissant.

It has left the Big Apple's gourmands in a frenzy.

The Dominique Ansel Bakery in the heart of trendy Soho opened its door at 8am. By 8.56am almost all of the 250 to 300 cronuts are sold.

Snippets

♥ Reese chocolates ♥

Clever and Wise

Universities are good at educating clever people.
Wisdom generally comes from within.

Passion and Wisdom

Passion is something that should guide us when choosing a course of study.
Wisdom is what we should hope to gain from it.

Action

"Talking is nice, but we have to come to a conclusion that it's time now for action." ~ Ralf Mutschke


Action speaks louder than words.

Chinese Philosophers Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi

The Principle of Humanism and Principle of Nature,
created by two Chinese philosophers Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi,
advocate us to first cultivate our own character.
We must be upright, trustworthy, righteous,
benevolent, magnanimous and courteous.
We need a lifestyle with few desires.
We must be true, simple and natural.
Let simplicity manifest, embrace it,
reduce selfishness and have few desires.

Although these two Chinese philosophers, Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi,
lived in ancient times,
their thoughts are still very relevant today.

Kiwifruit

The three key benefits of kiwifruit:

* Rich in vitamin C
and a natural boost for our immunity

* Low in calories,
making it a great snack

* Contains fibre to relief bloating
and keep our digestive system healthy

Trust

The legacy of trust,
crafted into every moment.

Communication
that speaks of acceptance and love.
Of trust and integrity.




Poem Copyright
@2013 audreyin
All Rights Reserved

The Guy

"Don't look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul. Look at how the guy treats his mother and what he says about women. How he acts with children he doesn't know. And, more important, how does he treat you? When you're dating a man, you should always feel good. You should never feel less. You should never doubt yourself." ~ Michelle Obama

Forever Friend

"Sometimes in life, you find a special friend. Someone who changes your life just by being part of it. Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop. Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world. Someone who convinces you that there really is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it. This is forever friendship. When you're down and the world seems dark and empty, your forever friend lifts you up in spirit and makes that dark and empty world suddenly seem bright and full. Your forever friend gets you through the hard times, the sad times and the confused times. If you turn and walk away, your forever friend follows. If you lose your way, your forever friend guides you and cheers you on. Your forever friend holds your hand and tells you that everything is going to be okay. And if you find such a friend, you feel happy and complete because you need not worry. You have a forever friend, and forever has no end."

~ Lesley Faulkner

Facebook

"I realise that the whole depiction of some people's lives on their Facebook profile pages are but a fake version of the real thing, one where all the ugly, stupid or painful things are removed, one where any photo of us that we regard as unflattering is untagged." ~ Jeremy Au Yong


May I add that these boasting and bragging could be a reflection of the deep insecurities in the people's lives?

Ten Ways to Lose Weight Without Dieting

* Get more sleep
* Eat breakfast
* Try the 80:20 rule (80% of healthy food and 20% of less healthy food)
* Eat more 'good' fats of olive oil, nuts and avocados
* Choose filling food
* Eat more slowly
* Concentrate on your meals
* Cut out unnecessary extras
* Eat more frequently
* Start a fitness programme

Tears

The tears that flow involuntary
speak volumes with much
sincere feelings and strong emotions
pain and anger
hatred and disappointment
love and joy
gratitude and thankfulness




Poem Copyright
@2013 audreyin
All Rights Reserved

Why

Why?
is a very simple word
that could have a simple answer
or a complex explanation

It might be answered truthfully
or has hidden meanings



Poem Copyright
@2013 audreyin
All Rights Reserved

Love

"Love requires three things: acceptance, honesty, and commitment. 

Love comes when you care more about who the other person really is, rather than about who you think they should become. It’s about daring to reveal yourself honestly, and daring to be open and vulnerable over the long-term. It’s about sticking by each other’s side through thick and thin, and truly being there in the flesh and spirit when you’re needed most. Remember, the most romantic love story is not Romeo and Juliet who died young together; it’s the story of grandma and grandpa who helped each other through life, and grew old together." 

~ Author Unknown

Hypocrisy

"I've never met someone who have said such mean and negative things to me in my face and still want to catch up with me and ask me how I'm doing. WTF mate!" ~ Alyssa W. 

So well said!

Dressed for Promotion

This may sound silly, but sometimes a promotion is not offered because of our wardrobe. Take a look at the people who are getting the promotions. Do they dress differently from us? The boss has to visualise us in the position we want and, therefore, we must look the part.

Getting a promotion is not just about job performance. It is about the big picture and promoting ourselves as a valuable part of the company.

Snippets

♥ Viber ♥

Office Gossip

Although this is sometimes very hard to do, we should not be among the group who spends time gossiping about our colleagues. When someone tries to draw us in, make it clear that we are not interested. Eventually they will stop seeking us out for those types of unfavourable activities.

BELOVED CHILD OF GOD 
WHISPERING SWEET AMEN OF PEACE AND LOVE
INSPIRING TO BE A SPARKLE OF JOY AND CHEER
CHERISHES THE OLD RUGGED CROSS...

THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, I GO

Great Singapore Sale

It starts today.
Happy Shopping!

Bigger Better Sale

It is a one-day online sale by 30 merchants who are offering discounts of up to 80%.
It starts at 8pm today.

Advertisers

There are five advertisers on my blog this week:

* Samsung
* IKEA
* Eu Yang Sang
* Sentosa
* Astalift

Grateful! (*.*)



UPDATE at 9pm:

Canon is the sixth advertiser :)

Snippets

Yours truly has scheduled the daily posts for the blogs until the end of this year. Hee! :)

World Street Food Congress

31 May 2013 to 09 June 2013
11am to 10pm

F1 Paddock and Pit Building
1 Republic Boulevard

iWatch

Apple is reported working on a wristwatch for its next project.

Are you excited?

SingTel MIO TV

These are the most recent records in my log book for prank calls received by us:

15 May 2013 - 6564110053 4:06pm
20 May 2013 - 6564110053 4:37pm
25 May 2013 - 6564110053 6:59pm

I had told the caller that we are not interested in any MIO TV plans. Yet, she will call again in five days' time.  It is the same caller each time. I recognise her foreign accent.

Is it right for SingTel to release our fixed line number and name to strangers?

OCBC

The issue had not been settled by the respective department since November last year despite many written correspondences with them.

It took Rachel from the hotline just ONE hour to settle it efficiently.

What else can I say?

Singapore Social Concerts

The Meadows
Gardens by the Bay
Singapore

24 May 2013 at 7pm and
25 May 2013 at 8pm

Social Star Awards

It is the inaugural awards show celebrating the most popular personalities and brands in social media.
Jeremy Piven and Jessica Alba are the hosts.
It will be held at the MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore at 8pm today.

Hard rock veterans Aerosmith, K-pop star Psy, pop starlet Carly Rae Jepsen and soul-pop inger Ceelo Green will be performing.

Yen

The sun is rising again in Japan as the weak yen delivers a long-awaited boost to growth.

Company profits, stock market gains and economic sentiment have all been given a dramatic boost by the recent plunge in the yen, whose previous strength had been a bane of struggling Japanese manufacturers.

Laduree Singapore

The macarons are flown in twice a week from Switzerland, where it has a factory churning them out.
We can buy them from

Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road
#02-09 (boutique)
#01-24A (counter)

10am to 9.30pm daily

I Choose

"I choose
to live by choice, not by chance
to make changes, not excuse
to be motivated, not manipulated
to be useful, not used
to excel, not compete

I choose self esteem, not self pity

I choose to listen to my inner voice,
not the random opinion of others."

~ Author Unknown

New Skincare Regimen

If we do not want to visit the dermatologist or do an allergy test before trying a new product, try a sample sparingly every other day for a week to be sure it is right for us. If we are starting on a new skincare regimen with a new set of products, try one at a time, a week apart. This will help us to determine which product is causing any inflammation, so we can stay away from it.

Allergy Test

Ask for enough samples that will allow us to try a new product on a small area of our skin every night for five nights. That should be enough time to help us determine if we are allergic to or irritated by the ingredients in the product.

Choose an inconspicuous patch, such as the inside of our wrist, as the test area. If we are allergic to the product, we will see redness on the skin any time during the five-day test period after application.

Special Brands

Some brands that doctors usually recommend are Avene, Atopiclair, Cetaphil, Ceradean, Curel, Ezerra, La Roche-Posay, Physiogel and QV. Such brands usually undergo extensive clinical testing, help repair the skin barrier and are least irritating to the skin.

Shop Smart

Even if the product comes with labels such as hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin, it does not necessarily mean that it is safe for reactive skin. They may just be catchphrases used by marketeers.

It is best to get the advice of a dermatologist or do a DIY allergy test before trying out a new potion.

Sensitive Skin

If we have sensitive skin, avoid trying products that are thick and heavy, oil-based, heavily fragranced or contain dyes and alcohol.

Anti-ageing products, which often contain ingredients such as retinoids (a vitamin A derivative) and AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid), can be too harsh for skin that is prone to inflammation.

Ten Keys to Mental Stimulation

Think positively - it's easier
Cherish the ones we love
Continue learning as long as we live
Learn from our mistakes
Exercise daily - it enhances our well-being
Do not complicate our lives unnecessarily
Try to understand and understand those around us
Do not give up - success in life is a marathon
Discover and nurture our talents
Sets goals for ourselves and pursue our dreams

iPhone Fatigue

Apple Inc's iconic iPhone is losing some of its lustre among Asia's well-heeled consumers in Singapore and Hong Kong, a victim of changing mobile habits and its own runaway success.

Driven by a combination of iPhone fatigue, a desire to be different and a plethora of competing devices, users are turning to other brands, notably those from Samsung Electronics Co Ltd , eating into Apple's market share.

In Singapore, Apple's products were so dominant in 2010 that more devices here ran its iOS operating system per capita than anywhere else in the world.

But StatCounter, which measures traffic collected across a network of 3 million websites, calculates that Apple's share of mobile devices in Singapore - iPad and iPhone - declined sharply last year.

The Truth

"The only people you need in your life are the ones who need you in theirs even when you have nothing else to offer them but yourself." ~ Author Unknown :)

Pho

Vietnamese noodle: A cultural pho-nomenon. Pho, a simple soup of beef broth, herbs, spices and rice noodles, emerged in north Vietnam some 100 years ago. It has since acquired a global following. It is beloved by French celebrity chefs and cash-strapped American students alike.

Have you tried it before?

Near Death Experiences

15 characteristics features which are experienced by those who woke up from comatose:

euphoria
an out-of-body experience
going through a tunnel
rising into the heavens
encountering non-physical beings and departed loved ones
sensing a loving "Being of Light"
a review of one's life
returning to the body

Is this a sign of life after death?

Forgiveness

"Yes, we need to forgive. But forgiveness does not equal instant restoration. I can stay healthy in a situation by remembering that forgiveness doesn’t mean giving the other person the kind of access in my life that sets me up for destructive patterns. I need to be loving but I also need to be wise." ~ Lysa TerKeurst

Fat

“‘Fat’ is usually the first insult a girl throws at another girl when she wants to hurt her.
I mean, is ‘fat’ really the worst thing a human being can be? Is ‘fat’ worse than ‘vindictive’, ‘jealous’, ‘shallow’, ‘vain’, ‘boring’ or ‘cruel’? Not to me; but then, you might retort, what do I know about the pressure to be skinny? I’m not in the business of being judged on my looks, what with being a writer and earning my living by using my brain…
I went to the British Book Awards that evening. After the award ceremony I bumped into a woman I hadn’t seen for nearly three years. The first thing she said to me? ‘You’ve lost a lot of weight since the last time I saw you!’
‘Well,’ I said, slightly nonplussed, ‘the last time you saw me I’d just had a baby.’
What I felt like saying was, ‘I’ve produced my third child and my sixth novel since I last saw you. Aren’t either of those things more important, more interesting, than my size?’ But no – my waist looked smaller! Forget the kid and the book: finally, something to celebrate!
I’ve got two daughters who will have to make their way in this skinny-obsessed world, and it worries me, because I don’t want them to be empty-headed, self-obsessed, emaciated clones; I’d rather they were independent, interesting, idealistic, kind, opinionated, original, funny – a thousand things, before ‘thin’. And frankly, I’d rather they didn’t give a gust of stinking chihuahua flatulence whether the woman standing next to them has fleshier knees than they do. Let my girls be Hermiones, rather than Pansy Parkinsons.” ~ J.K. Rowling

Relationship

“No relationship is perfect, ever. There are always some ways you have to bend, to compromise, to give something up in order to gain something greater… The love we have for each other is bigger than these small differences. And that’s the key. It’s like a big pie chart, and the love in a relationship has to be the biggest piece. Love can make up for a lot.” ~ Sarah Dessen, This Lullaby

Love

"To love someone effectively you need to be bold enough to pull them out of their pit. Compassionate enough to give them grace and strong enough not to take everything personal." ~ Julie Moon

Snippets

Since the noon posts are scheduled months in advance, I'm surprised by some of them when they are posted eventually. Hee! :D

Just For Today

"Smile at a stranger
Listen to someone's heart
Drop a coin where a child can find it
Learn something new, then teach it to someone else
Tell someone you're thinking of them
Hug a loved one
Don't hold a grudge
Don't be afraid to say 'I'm sorry'
Look a child in the eyes and say how great she is
Look beyond the face of a person and into their heart
Make a promise and keep it
Call someone for no other reason than just to say 'Hi'
Show kindness to an animal
Stand up for what you believe in
Smell the rain, feel the breeze, listen to the wind, enjoy the sun
Use all your senses to their fullest
Cherish all your TODAYS!"

~ Author Unknown

Snippets

Why is she using real cash to level up on Candy Crush so quickly? Who is competing with cheaters? The fun is gone. The victory is hollow :P

I've Learnt

"I've been walked on, used and forgotten.
I don't regret one moment of it.
In those moments I've learnt a lot.
I've learnt who I can trust and can't.
I've learnt the meaning of true friendships.

This is life.
Live it one day at a time."

~ Author Unknown

Be Yourself

Do not attempt to be something we are not.

We may find that not everything goes our way. Not everything does, not even for the kings and queens.

At such times, do not find fault with others. The act of laying it at their door will distract us from our true task.

Read

Above all things, read.

Read widely, joyously and recklessly.

Read the books that people say are good for you and the books which they say are not. Humans have been disapproving of books for thousands of years. Some of them are now the ones approved.

Therefore, read everything and decide for ourselves.

True Friend

To love without condition.
To talk without intention.
To give without reason.
To care without expectation.
This is the heart of a true friend.

Snippets

May I keep one of the gifts for myself? Love it too much. It's the last piece in the jewellery shop. I'll buy another gift :)

Simple

"I found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk, that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love." ~ The Hobbit

Snippets

Bought the very lovely wedding gifts ^.^

Everlasting Friends

It has been said that everlasting friends go long periods of time without speaking and never question their friendships. These friends pick up phones like they just spoke yesterday, regardless of how long it has been or how far away they live, and they don't hold grudges. They understand that life is busy and you will always love them and be there for each other.

Snippets

Bought nine pieces of jewellery over the past two days. Some of them are meant to be gifts ^.^

Good Person

Being a good person does not depend on our religion or status in life, our race or skin colour, political views or culture. It depends on how good we treat others.

Snippets

The very lovely wedding invitations (*.*)

Special Lady

Both of us are so different. We are comfortable in different languages. We are of different religions. Yet we can communicate.

She is of modest means. She works hard. Yet she is very generous.

She gave me not one but three gifts. There was no special occasion. Yet she made the day special.

Thank you!

Guyana

One of my lovely readers on my blog is from Guyana :)

Guyana, officially The Co-operative Republic of Guyana,
is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America.
Culturally, it is part of the Anglophone Carribean
and is one of the Carribean countries that is not an island.

Its capital is Georgetown.

Its currency is Guyanese dollar.

It has a population of 757,000.

Snippets

Sweet. Simple. Sincere (*.*)

Kindness

"Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do that same to you." ~ Princess Diana

Snippets

Fast. Furious. Frequent. The apt description of that online stalker. Not active on her own FB wall but responds very swiftly all the time.

Choose

In bad times choose to grow stronger.
In good times choose to enjoy fully.
In all times choose to be grateful.

Discipline

Once upon a time, parents actually disciplined their children and they learned to respect others. They grew up to be successful, productive and happy citizens.

Today parents can't or won't discipline kids. So we have a whole generation of mostly entitled, spoilt and disrespectful brats.

The End :D

The Help

‎"You are kind, you are smart and you are important. May God send his pillar of fire by night and His pillar of smoke by day, to light your path, to direct your steps, to guard your heart, to protect your thoughts and dreams, and to keep the enemy from invading your encampment." ~ The Help movie

Diets

Diets – most of us have tried them, few of us have loved them, and almost all of us have ditched them at some point in our lives. Just eat healthily in moderation. Exercise leisurely. Enjoy life.

Watch Out

You are on her side. If the two of you are at a party, and she’s looking a little intimidated by the crowd, pull her away from the corner and into the conversation. Don’t leave her alone with strangers just because you spotted a few of your own friends across the room. If you notice that she’s quiet and listless during dinner, ask her what’s wrong. If you learn that she got laid off, take her out to lunch at least once a week to cheer her up.  Show her that you’ll be there when she needs you, not just when the timing’s convenient for you.

Snippets

Bombing in Boston. Explosion in Texas. Shooting in MIT. Please be safe.

Supportive

Being supportive is not the same as being in agreement. At some point, your friend will make a choice that you think is unwise. You don’t have to condone it, but you can’t ditch her just because she’s not the person you want her to be. Love is unconditional. Give her your honest opinion and do what you can to stop her from hurting herself, but if she refuses to change her mind, then just let her know that you will be there regardless how things work out.

Forgive

People aren’t perfect, so at some point, your friend is going to disappoint you. Even if her actions aren’t malicious, you can’t help feeling hurt when she neglects you or says something that hits a raw nerve. By holding a grudge, you’re showing your friend that she owes you something – and that you have something to use against her. Let it go. Clear the emotional debts, and you’ll clear the clutter of unnecessary bitterness in your relationship. You don’t have to trust her right away once you forgive her, you just need to show that you are not out to punish her for what she has done.

Snippets

The rain was so heavy this morning.

Boston Marathon Blasts

Senseless incident.
Needless deaths.
Innocent injuries.

Quality Time

One of the simplest ways to deepen a friendship is to make quality time for each other. Never underestimate the power of a girls’ night out. Plan a “date” just for you and your friend, be it a trip to the hip new café downtown, or dimsum on a Saturday morning. Don’t just ask your friend if she wants to come along on whatever outing you’d already planned with other people. And don’t invite your significant other to join the two of you halfway through the night. Show your friend that you value one-on-one time by carving out a few hours especially for her.  

Gossip

The ultimate no-no and the source of all accusations that women are catty, b*tchy, fake and dramatic. We can poison a friendship quickly by talking smack about her. It is impossible to undo the effects of gossip. Even if we apologise to our friend when she finds out what we said, she is the one who has to deal with the impression we gave people about her. Friends take bullets for each other. They do not stab each other in the back.

Girl Code

What is the “girl code”, you ask? We could write a whole book on the unspoken rules within female friendships, but it all boils down to this: don’t kick the other person where it hurts. One of the hallmarks of friendships between women is the degree to which they share personal details with each other. Don’t become BFFs with someone who used to bully her. If you lose something she lent you, pay for it. You get the picture.

Share

There is nothing more confounding than when a friend sets herself up as your competitor. This can come by way of comments like, “You think your week was hard? Wait till you hear about mine,” or by more dramatic actions, like getting mad when more people pay attention to you than to her. Granted, some competitive feelings are natural. We’re only human. But don’t use these emotions as an excuse to one-up the other person or steal her thunder; otherwise, you’ll only introduce unnecessary tensions in your relationship.

A good friend is happy to share the limelight. Just look at how real-life BFFs Tina Fey and Amy Poehler bantered with each other during the Golden Globes this year. They gave each other room to shine as individuals, yet worked as a team so that the other person didn’t have to carry the atmosphere by herself.

Respect

This all comes down to respect. If we make plans, stick to them. If we tell her that we miss her, and that we must catch up next week, then follow through. We are setting up an expectation, so fulfill it. We are asking our friend to make room in her schedule for us, so honour the time that she puts aside. If we can commit to the plans we make, then she can trust us to commit to the friendship overall.

Be Polite

Nobody likes hearing criticism, but it’s even worse in the form of ambiguously bitter comments like:

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” (Translation: “I’m not really sorry, you’re the one who’s over-sensitive.”)

“I wish I were confident enough to wear that outfit.” (Translation: “Your fashion sense sucks.”)

Comments like those are engineered to undermine the person without implicating you for saying something blatantly mean. This is where cattiness begins. Don’t give your friend a reason to question the meaning behind things you say to her.

Female Friendships

As someone with a lot of female friends, I feel a little bad for women who claim that they can only hang out with guys because other women are too catty. They’re missing out on so much – and I don’t just mean stereotypical “girl activities” like shopping trips or pedicures. A great girl friend can be an anchor in times of need, as girls connect with each other on a level that guys just don’t experience. She’ll understand the mechanics of mother-daughter relationships, sympathise with you while you moan about your biological clock, and she’ll know exactly what to do when you’re bowled over with cramps in a public place.

Sure, there may be periods of time where you compete over guys or take your mood swings out on each other, but these problems aren’t unique to friendships among women. All relationships, no matter the depth or the genders involved, take hard work. If you’ve never been able to befriend other women, it’s not too late to learn.

The Heart Grows Smarter

What goes right is more important than what goes wrong.

The positive effect of one loving relative, mentor or friend can overwhelm the negative effects of the bad things that happen.

LeVel 33

LeVel 33
is a brewery and restaurant in
Tower 1 of Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC).

Its ambience is very good.

Give it a try.

Wealth

Tycoons are shunning banks and wealth managers, preferring to put their wealth into property and new ventures rather than trust industries whose reputations have been battered by the global financial crisis.

Some of the wealth managers have little experience in investment. They care more for the amount of commission earned instead of multiplying the wealth of their clients.

Stronger

"Life is short... forgive quickly, 
love truly, laugh often...
and never regret anything that 
made you stronger!" :)

~ Cathy Greek

Choose

I've learned that I cannot always count on others to respect my feelings even when I respect theirs. Being a good person does not guarantee that others will be good people too. We only have control over ourselves on how we choose to be a person. And for the others, we can only choose to accept them or walk away.

Justice

And justice will prevail because God sees all! :)

Mature

Being strong doesn't always mean you have to fight the battle. True strength is being mature enough to walk away from all the nonsense with your head held high.

Snippets

MEGA irritated by people who comment on my blogs to advertise for their crap. I worked hard to get my following. Stop freeloading, cheapos.

Payless Tampines

Are you looking for unique shoes, bags and accessories? You may wish to visit

Payless
Tampines One
#01-04/07
Tel: 6634 5878

The price is very reasonable. It carries a wide variety of brands and designs which were sourced from all over the world.

Daily Survival Kit

"Today, I am giving you a DAILY SURVIVAL KIT to help you each day...

Toothpick ... to remind you to pick the good qualities in everyone, including yourself.

Rubber band ... to remind you to be flexible. Things might not always go the way you want, but it can be worked out.

Band-Aid ... to remind you to heal hurt feelings, either yours or someone else's.

Eraser ... to remind you everyone makes mistakes. That's okay, we learn from our errors.

Candy Kiss ... to remind you everyone needs a hug or a compliment everyday.

Mint ... to remind you that you are worth a mint to your family and me.

Bubble Gum ... to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything.

Pencil ... to remind you to list your blessings every day.

Tea Bag ... to remind you to take time to relax daily and go over that list of blessings."


~ Tiffany Keaster Mlsna

Snippets

Fair, firm, fat :D

Too Much Rice

Thailand's rice pledging scheme is worrying international producers.

The Thai government has been buying rice at a premium of more than 50 percent over market prices since October 2011.

It has led to a stockpile of 14 million tonnes. Exports dive due to the artificial high price. USA is worried that the stocks will be dumped on the world market.

Mountains of unsold rice have led to overflowing warehouses.

The rice farmer is going to suffer huge consequences next season, when he produces the rice but there is nowhere to store it.

Snippets

♥ SQ ♥

Pseudo Identity

Is there a need to use someone's mobile and fixed line numbers to call us?
Is there a necessity to use someone's email address to contact us?
Just be who you're unless you've something to hide.

We know who you're all this while.
We trust our intuition and the little voice in us a lot.
We've nothing to hide.


"So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man." ~ Acts 24:16

Snippets

Just tweeted via mobile. Bring it on :)

Bulaubulau

It rains for over 200 days a year here.

But this doesn't dampen the spirits of the Atayal people in Bulaubulau, who play host to groups of tourists who come visiting for a day to down copious amounts of rice wine while indulging in a seven- course meal.

Nestled deep in the mountains in Yilan County, Bulaubulau is a small village that is home to members of the Atayal tribe, or "taiya zu" in Mandarin.

This is where clusters of nine families cook, hunt, weave and entertain guests who come here to learn about the culture of one of Taiwan's indigenous tribes.

There are no roads here and there's hardly any mobile network either. The only vehicle you'll encounter will be the jeep that will pick you up from the sleepy town of Hanxi, and then drop you off halfway up the mountain.

From there, the rest of the journey is on foot.

Snippets

Psalm 5:9

Antioxidants

The time has come to seriously ask whether antioxidant use much more likely causes than prevents cancer.

A number of studies have shown that taking antioxidants such as vitamin E do not reduce the risk of cancer but can actually increase it, and can even shorten life.

But drugs that block antioxidants - "anti-antioxidants" - might make even existing cancer drugs more effective.

Anything that keeps cancer cells full of oxygen radicals "is likely an important component of any effective treatment," said cancer biologist Robert Benezra of Sloan-Kettering.

Snippets

Aloof and a wolf :D

Cha-Éle Rainwater

Life is very short and unpredictable. Just received news that our beloved Cha-Éle Rainwater is in heaven now. She is a very great angel both on earth and in heaven. She is a very lovely lady with a very big heart. She has sent many lovely premium and super rare Hatchlings eggs to me to help with my collection. She will be missed by everyone in A1 Hatchlings Angels Members Lounge. We love you, Cha-Éle ♥

Transparency

The person who kneels down before God
can stand facing before anyone and everyone.

There is nothing to hide.

Truth and transparency prevail in the person's life.

Message of Hope

"The Church today wants to transmit a message of hope, especially in the hearts of the simple, the humble, the poor, the forgotten, those who do not matter in the eyes of the world." ~ Pope Francis in his Palm Sunday sermon

Inevitable

All those we love we will eventually know.
All those we hate we will eventually face.
This is the inevitable consequence.

Snippets

90% adorable 10% annoying :P

Clear Speech

Strive to speak clearly, concisely and precisely.

When discussing important matters, get to the point quickly.

Know our subject well.

Get our facts right before starting the topic.

Avoid making assumptions.

Body Language

Make regular eye contact with the person talking with us.

Nod occasionally to acknowledge a strong point in the conversation.

Stand with hands clasped in front of us.

Don't cross our arms as it signals defensiveness or lack of interest.

Avoid looking at our watch for it shows our impatience to end the conversation.

Lotus Tea

The lotus plant originated in India and is currently cultivated in Southeast Asia, primarily for food and herbal medicine. All parts of the plant are utilized, but the primary active ingredients are found in the roots and seeds. Harvesters collect the plant during late summer after the seeds have matured. 

Snippets

Trust is a great luxury which we can't afford.

Real

I'm changing as a person. I'm learning who is real and has real meaning in my life :)

Snippets

The post on 01 December 2012 attracted 90 comments so far.

Beautiful People

People are beautiful
not in looks
not in what they say
but just in who they are.

Snippets

Found eight similar buttons of the required size and colour in my wide collection of buttons :)

Make Clothing Last Longer

* Read care labels carefully
* Use the right detergent
* Use laundry nets
* Dry stretchable fabrics on top of horizontal nets
* Dry laundry in the shade
* Dry clean when in doubt
* Use dust bags
* Dewrinkle without ironing
* Iron on the reverse side

Snippets

Someone shared a smile with Pamela Anderson in Bypass, Geneva yesterday :)

Plan Our Outfits

An effective wardrobe is one in which each item matches at least three others, so we get more mileage out of each garment.

Keep loose parts of a dress, skirt, pants or top, such as belts and detachable straps, together with the garments so that we will not have to search for them.

Snippets

♥ Candy Crush Saga 335. So surreal ♥

Stay Organised

When we know what we own, we will not make the mistake of buying similar items or forget to wear our new buys. We will be able to pick out pieces we want to wear more quickly too.

Arrange our clothes in such a way that we can see everything at a glance. So hang up as many pieces as our wardrobe space allows, giving priority to our formal wear and favourite pieces.

Separate formal workwear from the casual pieces.

Divide them further into tops, jackets, bottoms and dresses.

Within each clothing type, arrange them by colour.

Arrange the clothing by length.

Separate the patterned pieces from those in solid colours.

Snippets

Hotmail changed to Outlook. Hardly take a look at it now.

Sell, Do Not Hoard

Donate or dump clothes that we have not touched in the past year or two. Chances are, we will never wear them because they have gone out of style, no longer fit us or were impulse buys. In short, they are just taking up space.

Pieces that can be excluded from this rule are winter wear and classic as well as exquisite pieces that we are saving for special occasions - provided they still fit.

Humanity

The tie of our common humanity binds us together far greater than the divide of our cultural backgrounds. Sincerity and mutual respect are the keys to an enriching bond.

Snippets

She uploaded her Japan photos immediately after the addition on Facebook. So touched :)

Impressions

"As we go through the journey of life,
we must remember that the impressions we leave behind
will define who and what we are.

They are just as individual as the path we had chosen to walk.

So leave a good impression wherever we go."

~ Author Unknown

Free Accommodation

Yes, I'm fully aware that you're trying to touch base with me once again now. Why? Because you need free accommodation in my country now. Where were you when you had free accommodation elsewhere while on holiday in my country over the past decade? Not even a phone call.

You and your extended family of more than fifteen people had stayed over at my place whenever all of you visited my country over the much earlier years. The stays can be added up to a month of free lodging over the years. We stayed over at your home for only two nights on two different vacations. The treatment received was so starkly different from those shared by me.

Should I be bothered at all now?

Dress

Instead of my usual denim skirt and top, I put on a dress for my daily grocery shopping trip. My contacts were very surprised upon seeing me. The compliments were very encouraging. Perhaps I should wear a dress more often instead. I used to don a dress for special occasions only.

Think

Before we speak, THINK

T  Is it true
H  Is it helpful
I    Is it inspiring
N  Is it necessary
K  Is it kind

Snippets

Yours truly was last here on 01 March 2013. How have you been? :')

Shall update some snippets now to offer a tiny glimpse into my life since most of the daily noon posts had been scheduled a few months in advance.

Hope

It is an intriguing, sometimes awkward event that is nostalgic over an episode at an end yet hints at a future ripe with possibilities.

Reminiscing about the past and hoping what the future may bring.

Kooka

Are you craving for Aussie cuisine?

Nicoise salad
Lasagna
Felafel wrap
Carrot cake
Orange almond cake

You may head to

Kooka
18 Purvis Street
#01-01

Lauren Chambers and Cheong Bei Jia
will be most delighted to serve you
with their homemade delicacies
which are made with honesty and integrity.

G'day, mate!

Snippets

♥ By God's Grace ♥

Popeyes Restaurants in Singapore

Popeyes Restaurants Louisiana Kitchen are located at:

Bugis Village
Bedok Point
Century Square
Changi Airport Terminal 3
Downtown East
IMM
Jubilee Square
Orchard Xchange
Punggol East
Square 2
The Cathay

Do you like its buttermilk biscuits?

Friends

"Friends are like petals on a flower; together they're beautiful and make people smile but eventually some petals fall off and drift off in the wind and go their own ways." ~ Cathy Greek 

Snippets

♥ Heng ge lao sai :') ♥

Kindness

If the person had been kind to us, we will have fond memories forever.
If the person had been unkind to us, there will be pain and hatred in our minds and hearts.

Snippets

Received a very interesting and exciting phone call.

Speak Well

Speak from the heart and share our experiences. Impress our audience with our ability to think on our feet by addressing their responses effectively.

Have a bigger purpose in mind when we speak to an audience. Share our values and invite our audience to journey with us.

We will engage our audience when they can relate to us on common experiences and problems. Show that we are serious about helping them and offer them solutions.

Ask questions. Put ourselves in our audience's shoes. Show that we have been there and done that.

Position ourselves as an expert. Read widely and deeply and always be ready with different perspectives and analyses. Our experience counts too. The more we have, the more we can share.

NamNam Noodle Bar

Are you looking for authentic Vietnamese food in Singapore?
You may find them at

NamNam Noodle Bar
Raffles City Shopping Centre
#B1-46/47
Tel: 6336 0500

or

Wheelock Place
#B2-02
Tel: 6735 1488

It serves breakfast set from 8am to 10am
and set lunch from 10am to 3pm on weekdays (except public holidays).

Reservation is not needed.
Please be prepared for the long, snaking queue.

Liquidity Risk

The stock market, like life in general, overvalues glitz, glamour and grand promises. It undervalues groundedness, consistency and conservatism.

But one risk that the market seems to price more accurately, or in other words, one risk that the market will reward investors for taking, is liquidity risk. That is the risk of us not being able to cash out any time we want without losing part of our capital.

However, there is a flip side. The flip side is, if we have cash when everyone is trying to raise it, our money will go a long way. If we can provide liquidity when the market most needs it, we shall be amply rewarded.

It is the same with help extended to someone in dire straits. That help will be, most of the time, well-remembered and appreciated and, sometimes, repaid generously.

Snippets

♥ Aquamarine earrings ♥

Black Ivory Coffee

In the lush hills of northern Thailand, a herd of twenty elephants is helping to excrete some of the world's most expensive coffee.

Trumpeted as earthy in flavour and smooth on the palate, the exotic new brew is made from beans eaten by Thai elephants and plucked a day later from their dung. A gut reaction inside the elephant creates what its founder calls the coffee's unique taste.

Stomach turning or oddly alluring, this is not just one of the world's most unusual speciality coffees. At US$1,100 (S$1343) per kg, it is also among the world's priciest.

For now, only the wealthy or well-travelled have access to the cuppa, which is called Black Ivory Coffee.

Olivia Lum of Hyflux

Olivia Lum is the founder, group Chief Executive Officer and President
of the Singapore-based Hyflux Group.

She was adopted at birth in Malaysia,
never knew her biological parents.
She was brought up by a lady
whom she called her grandmother.

At 15 years of age,
she came to Singapore.
Enrolled at Tiong Bahru Secondary.
Then Serangoon Junior College.
She graduated with an honours degree in Chemistry
from National University of Singapore.
She supported herself through tutoring and sales jobs.

At the age of 28 in 1998, Olivia Lum set up Hydrochem,
the precusor to Hyflux, with just SG$20,000.
As of 2007, Hyflux was worth SG$1 billion
and employed more than 800 people worldwide.


Olivia Lum is a great role model for every student.
With tenacity and determination, nothing is impossible.

Snippets

"Whoever walks in integrity, walks securely." Proverbs 10:9

Guernsey

Guernsey is officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

It is a British Crown dependency
in the British Channel
off the coast of Normandy.

Its capital is St Peter Port.
Its currency is Guernsey Pound.

Its area is only 78 square km.

It has a population of only 66,000.
And one of them is a dear reader of my blog.

Thank you so much!
I'm so grateful and humbled.

Snippets

Heavy thundery showers with gusty wind and flash floods for three hours this evening :')

Keret House

Warsaw's Keret House is built
in a 1.2m gap between two buildings.
The narrow gap is between a pre-war apartment building
and an 11-storey postwar co-op.

Keret House is designed by Polish architect Jakub Szczesny
and named after Israeli author Etgar Keret.
At just 1.2m across at its widest,
and a mere 0.7m at its narrowest point,
it may be the world's thinnest home.

By Polish law, Keret House is too small to be a residence.
It has been classified as an art installation,
to be owned and administered by the Polish Modern Art Foundation.

Snippets

The rain is so refreshing and cooling :)

Blessed Be Your Name

Psalm 24:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

³ Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
    Who may stand in His holy place?
⁴ The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not trust in an idol
    or swear by a false god.

⁵ They will receive blessing from the Lord
    and vindication from God their Savior.

21 February 2013 was a very great day of many miraculous breakthroughs. 

Blessed Be Your Name!

Snippets

♥ Vindication is mine, says the Lord! Bless Him! ♥

Key

"Imagine a key that unlocks the door to the forest with its secrets, to the sky with its peacefulness, to the universe with its infinity, to a future with a promise for a better life." ~ Yoko Ono


Keep this golden key locked in the treasure chest, to be cherished by grateful, sincere and humble people in our lives :)

Snippets

♥ Blessed be the name of the Lord! ♥

Lie

"The lies are so real that reality looks like a lie but one must not forget." ~ Tommy Lee


Some people can always lie with their eyes wide opened. It's part of their nature until they had lost their conscience and integrity. It's just a matter of time before their contacts unraveled their lies and scheming ways. By then, it's too late to save their reputation.

♥ I found them! Spent 3 hours ♥

The Week

What a week! The phone call. Valentine's Day. A friend fell sick. A friend became a grandmother for the first time. A friend is in my heart, thoughts and prayers now. Bought gorgeous gerberas for some lovely ladies ♥

Snippets

♥ Gorgeous gerbera ♥

Cape Verde

"What is Cape Verde?" is not accurate.
It should be "Where is Cape Verde?"

Cape Verde is a country.
Officially it is the Republic of Cape Verde.
It is an island country;
spanning an archipelago of ten islands.
It is located in the central Atlantic Ocean;
570 km off the coast of Western Africa.

Its capital is Praia.
It has a population of 500,600.
Portuguese is its official language.

The Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) is its currency.


What piqued my interest in Cape Verde?
One of my dear readers of my blog is from Cape Verde :)
Thank you!

Snippets

Forgot to bring my mobile phone out yesterday. Is it a freedom or a loss? It's a sweet walk down memory lane :)

Table Manners

If you're at Changi City Point now, you may wish to dine in

Table Manners at #01-68/69

The western food is very delicious.
The service is very good.
The ambience is very nice.

Snippets

♥ Just saw a very lovely rainbow from home yesterday ♥

Kiribati

The low-lying Pacific nation of Kiribati is running out of time on climate change as the sea level rises.

Areas of Kiribati - consisting of more than 30 coral atolls, most only a few metres above sea level - had already been swamped by the rising ocean.

Kiribati is among a number of island states - including Tuvalu, Tokelau and the Maldives - which the United Nations Human Rights Commission is concerned, could become stateless due to climate change.

Snippets

Should the photographic and call recording evidence be uploaded? It'll be too shocking!

Small Nations

"The strong do what they can
and the weak suffer what they must." ~ Greek Historian Thucydides

This may be true when a fight breaks out,
but in an era of peace,
smaller nations can rely on factors
other than size and might to gain an edge.

Small nations should strive to do
what they can in diplomacy,
as they always have,
and find their own rightful place in the world.

Snippets

Forgiveness is a privilege that needs to be earned in some circumstances.

Kitchen Sink

The kitchen sink was clogged.
What to do?

Instead of calling the plumber,
I googled it.
I asked my friends.

Prayers, bleach, hot water,
pumping and a thin wooden stick were suggested.

Finally...
The Whoosh melody was heard :)

Snippets

Why do that person always call only when help is needed?

I Wish You Enough

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter's departure had been announced. 

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said:

"I love you and I wish you enough."

The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom." They kissed and the daughter left.

The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry.

I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?"

"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral," she said.

When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"

She began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.

"When we said 'I wish you enough' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them". Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory,

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

She then began to cry and walked away.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person. An hour to appreciate them. A day to love them. And an entire life to forget them.

~ Author Unknown

Snippets

We've a "new" friend called Jacqueline :)

The Phone Call

The caller asked repetitively two days ago:

"What must I do in order to meet all of you again?"

"Is there any other way to keep in contact with all of you?"

Snippets

♥ To love and be loved. To cherish and be cherished. To treasure and be treasured everyday. ♥

Brad Dwyer and Hatchlings 2

Hatchlings 2 is a very fun game to stimulate your brain cells.
Brad Dwyer and his team are very helpful and efficient too.
Give it a try :)

Snippets

What a telephone call from that person at 1:16pm! SIGH! Crocodile tears?! God can see and hear everything.

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein, officially the Principality of Liechtenstein, 

is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, 

bordered by Switzerland to the west and south, 

and by Austria to the east and north.

Its capital is Vaduz.

Its currency is Swiss franc.

It has a population of 37,000.

Its official language is German.

A big HELLO to my dear reader from this lovely country :)

Snippets

Barry, Cary, Darry, Gary, Gerry, Harry, Jerry, Kerry, Larry, Mary, Perry, Terry :P

Dress It Up

Are you looking for stylish and handmade costumes for your children?
You may wish to visit

The Children's Showcase
#02-31
Cluny Court

Playhao
#02-15
Forum The Shopping Mall

All the pretty and smart costumes are sewn by Ms Anna Davis.
Your children will be most delighted to wear one of the costumes.

Snippets

Succulent cherries from Tasmania :')

Guryong and Gangnam

Guryong, a shanty town in Seoul,

is adjacent to South Korea's wealthiest Gangnam district.

The sprawling slum of plywood and tarpaulin shacks

has more than 2000 residents scrabbling out a subsistence

living with Third World poverty levels

and little or no proper sanitation.

Guryong is about as far removed as possible 

from the opulent, glitzy world of neighbouring Gangnam -

an upscale district of luxury boutiques and night clubs.

Guryong is only separated from Gangnam 

by a highway and covers an area of 70 acres.

The irony of Guryong's squalor is that

it sits on an area of prime real estate.

The land is privately owned,

but the squatters have been there for so long

that they have acquired a quasi-legal status.

Guryong is a concentrated embodiment of everything

that is wrong with South Korea's rapid economic development.

It is a powerful symbol of inequality in our society.

Widening income gaps,

the lack of support for rapidly ageing population

and the marginalisation of those left behind

by the country's industrial drive.

Snippets

Phone call from Canberra. Text message from Sydney :)

Lesotho

Lesotho, officially the Kingdom of Lesotho,
is a landlocked country and enclave,
completely surrounded by its only neighbouring country,
the Republic of South Africa.
It is just over 30,000 square km in size
with a population of 2,193,843.
Its capital is Maseru.

May I say a big HELLO to a dear reader from Lesotho?
Thank you :)

Snippets

Perhaps the rain could be more decisive :P

Macau

Life in Macau is geared towards gambling,
which brings in revenue of over US$33 billion (S$40.3 billion)
and accounts for more than 40 percent of GDP.

There are more than four times as many gambling tables
per 1000 residents as hospital beds.
There is only one public hospital and 36 casinos.

Macau is both the world's most densely populated territory.
About half a million people are packed into a 30 sq km area.
It is also the fastest growing economy in the world.

Macau attracted 28 million visitors last year.
The gambling industry has boosted general living standards over the past decade.
However, the development of social infrastructure,
including health care and transport,
has lagged behind.

Snippets

Facebook Connect bug. Ooh la la :')

Soup Spoon Restaurant Bugis

Are you shopping at Bugis Village now?

Most probably you're thinking where to eat

after your shopping is done.

If you like western soups, sandwiches,

salads, wraps, cakes and ice cream,

Soup Spoon Restaurant Bugis suits you.

It's at basement level in Bugis Junction.

It's in front of Itacho Sushi Restaurant.

Elisa and team can recommend

if you need some advice. 

Snippets

♥ Phoned the publisher in USA ♥

Most Beautiful People

"The most beautiful people
we have known are those
who have known defeat
known suffering
known struggle
known loss
and have found their way
out of the depths.

These people have
an appreciation
a sensitivity
and an understanding of life
that fills them with
compassion
empathy
and a deep loving, genuine concern.

Beautiful People
do not just happen..."


~ Author Unknown

Recognition

Give recognition where and when it is due.
People value genuine appreciation more than money.

Recognition and praise are indeed high-octane fuel.
When we receive a genuine compliment,
it makes us want to go the extra mile
for the person who gave the compliment.

How to make people feel more appreciated?

* Pay attention to people with common courtesy
* Listen to what they have to say
* Use powerful, positive language in our interaction with others
* Put praise in writing
* Keep our commitments
* Give people public credit for contributions


Thank you so much for reading my blog regularly.
I'm very humbled and grateful :)

Snippets

♥ The sea breeze smells so fragrant ♥ 

Integrity

In conversations with many amazing and successful people across sectors, countries and levels, I did not observe any specific template of skills or definite formulas. What there was in common was passion - plenty of it. Integrity and good character too.

I agree wholeheartedly with one of my very wise readers when he commented on a previous post "Culture Gap" dated 20 September 2012:

"Trouble is that we can't make integrity into people, it must be developed, and is, mostly from family." ~ Dr Jim :)

Hotel Scam

BEWARE OF HOTEL SCAM!!!

Hotel/Motel Scam
(This one is so simple it is shocking)
You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk. When checking in, you give the front desk your credit card (for all the charges for your room). You get to your room and settle in.

Someone calls the front desk and asks (for example) Room 920 - which happens to be your room. The phone rings in your room.

You answer and the person on the other end says the following:

'This is the front desk. When checking in, we came across a problem with your charge card information. Please re-read your credit card number and verify the last 3 digits on the reverse side of your charge card.'

Not thinking anything, you might give this person this information, since the call seems to come from the front desk. But actually, it is a scam of someone calling from outside the hotel/front desk.

They ask for a random room number. Then, ask you for credit card information and address information. They sound so professional, that you give it to them, thinking you are talking to the front desk.

If you ever encounter this problem on your vacation, tell the caller that you will be down at the front desk to clear up any problems.
Then, go to the front desk and ask if there was a problem.
If there was none, inform the manager of the hotel that someone called to scam you of your credit card information, acting like a front desk employee.

This was sent by someone who has been uped........ and is still cleaning up the mess.

P.S. PLEASE PASS ALONG TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Who knows, you might just help someone avoid a nasty experience

ANYONE traveling should be aware of this.