Spring Cleaning!

So Chinese New Year is over, well for most people who will be going back to work today. Plus point for me working from home, which means things pretty much remain the same. In fact a little slower than usual since most of my clients are still on leave.

The last four days went by pretty quickly although the last two saw my darling down with a cold, and a slight eye infection. We didn't do much aside from visiting but I did manage to do a little spring cleaning. We also got around to cleaning our balcony, which was filled with debris and junk from other residents throwing things out of the higher-floors of our condo building.

Cleaning my home can be quite tiring and with three naughty cats around, the place is usually messy! Thank goodness I don't have to worry about gardening since condo-living means there's no garden for me to beautify. Sometimes I think it's a blessing in disguise that I don't have the additional burden of gardening to worry about. Firstly, I am so not a green-thumb person. Secondly, I wouldn't have the faintest idea on what to do with my garden and would probably require help from professional garden landscapers. And lastly, I am just plain lazy when it comes to gardening. The only thing I've ever planted in my life was a watermelon plant, which died immediately after bearing its one and only fruit!

So enough said about gardening and let's talk about the awesome wet/dry vacuum instead! Wet dry vacuums can pretty much suck up anything quickly, quietly and completely. This includes cat litter, garden mulch, sawdust, dishwasher leaks, laundry room puddles, microscopic drywall dust, as well as spilt milk and other household mishaps. Some even have the ability to act as blowers and steam clean carpets!

I was just talking to B the other day about needing a new vacuum cleaner. The last one we bought still works fine but a dry/wet vac sounds even more awesome! Even Phoebe seems to agree!

Time to get a new vacuum Master!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-


GAGAY
CAROLINE
LAINY

Appliance Repair & Benji's Hideout

Catching Benji hiding inside my clothes dryer usually gets me a little flustered. It's tiresome having to clean the inside of my dryer after Benji takes a nap there simply because he leaves a huge trail of fur behind. I'd have to use a wet cloth or wet wipes to get it really clean and sometimes I miss a spot or two since it's kind of dark inside the dryer so I can't see too well. End result? My clothes come out fluffy not only from the Bounce sheets that I use but from Benji's leftover fur as well! And as much as I like fluffy things, furry clothes are not one of them.

Today however, I am all smiles to see Benji hiding inside my dryer. He does look adorable inside the dryer, which is broken by the way so I have no qualms with Benji making it his hangout for the next few days. This is the first time my dryer is giving me problem so I'm a little unsure if I have to replace certain dryer parts or send it for appliance repair. Either way, I've already called the store and since our warranty has expired, there would be the additional cost to consider if we are obligated to purchase new GE parts to repair the dryer.

The dryer is actually a gift from my parents and it has served us well over the years. So we're thinking or getting it serviced instead of hastily purchasing a new one for the sake of convenience. I'd rather save the money for our vacation fund so it's been decided that we'd take the trouble to get it repaired. Meanwhile, Benji is happily conquering my dryer and he refuses to leave his new hideout unless it's chow time. How cute is that?

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

GAGAY
LADY JAVA
TEKKAUS

Good Cooking!

On our wedding day, B and I received a whole bunch of kitchen appliances as wedding gifts. I guess almost everybody assumed I'd be doing a whole lot of cooking for my new hubby, which was the case for the next few years with me happily cooking daily.

I didn't use all the kitchen appliances though for things like a Bread Maker did not come in handy for the non-baker in me. But I loved that we had four different-size rice cookers, assorted colour toasters, pretty Dinnerware and my personal favourite the toaster oven! I've prepared many nice dishes with the toaster oven; simple ready-to-eat stuff, which could be turned into a delicious meal if you throw in a little creativity with your toasting, baking and cooking.

We gave away some of our duplicate appliances to family members and close friends but there were still plenty left over to last us until now. In fact, now that I'm on my Blockbuster Diet, the appliances come in even handier; allowing me to prepare low-fat meals for yours truly. I use my trusty blender to blend healthy fruit juices for me and the toaster oven works perfectly for my low-fat grilled cheese!

I know it's already coming up to our 8-year anniversary but it's never too late to give thanks once again to my wonderful wedding guests. Thank you for the thoughtful gifts, I am still using them until today so that was definitely a good gift call!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

LADY JAVA
MONICA
TEKKAUS

In the Mood for...

SCENTED CANDLES!

For the past two weeks, I have been enjoying candlelight baths, well showers if you will since we don't have a tub in the main bathroom. The ceiling light in our bathroom has gone haywire and despite replacing the light with a new one, the light refuses to switch on. B even tried using a new starter for the light but we think it's the wiring.

Like I mentioned in one of my previous posts, the wiring for our home lighting seems faulty everywhere. And more than once, I've been shocked by light bulbs unexpectedly exploding when I switch off the lights in my office or in the living-room.

We seriously need to get somebody to look into our faulty wiring and we will, sooner or later. And when the time comes, I'd really like to replace our ceiling light with this elegant vanity wall fixture light. I just love simple classic designs don't you? This fixture has 3 lights and takes 3-100 Watt Medium Base light bulbs and is available at Lightingsale.com should you too be interested. Offering the lowest prices online, this huge lighting store brings to you over 300 different manufacturers selling over half a million lighting products. There's a massive Black Friday SALE for today only, so hurry over!

Initially, I was of course angry at the thought of having to grope around in the dark when the bathroom light went out. The incident happened on a Sunday and no contractor or lighting store would send over someone to have it fixed. So I opted for candles to light up my bathroom and now, I am truly, madly and deeply hooked on my scented candles! In fact, I just told B there's really no hurry to fix the bathroom light for my baths have never felt this good or relaxing now that I'm using scented candles instead of a proper light. Now why didn't I start this sensual ritual sooner?

I just bought a whole new bunch of scented candles and I can't wait to try them out. I have orange, vanilla, lemon, green tea, lavender and yummy apple candles and I'm planning to use them all! See you guys later!

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

MONICA
ROXY
ADRIAN

A Little Home Shopping

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

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

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



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

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

-FC Scoreboard points for my first THREE commenters-

LADYJAVA
DEBBS
SHEMAH

B the Plumber...Not!

I woke up Sunday afternoon to the sounds of B working in the kitchen. Groggily making my way there for a cup of wake-me-up coffee, I was surprised to see him with the plunger and our kitchen cabinets down below the sink wide open.

I asked what he was doing and he said that he was trying to fix the sink, which got me thinking what could possibly be wrong with our double stainless sinks. I made myself some coffee and ventured into my office, leaving him to his task as I start checking my emails and stuff online.

Minutes later, B emerged from the kitchen into my office with a sullen face telling me that the kitchen sink is clogged and water won't go down the drain. It was working fine the last time I turned on the tap to do some dishes so I couldn't figure out what was wrong. The idea of calling a plumber on a Sunday was too much for me to handle especially since I just woke up.

I pressed B for more details and he reluctantly admitted that the kitchen sink only started to clog after he used the plunger! Before that, it was working fine and water was still running down the drain with no problem, just a tad slower than usual. Trying to surprise me by fixing the sink so it would be smooth-running again, he attempted to pull a Tim the Tool Man on me. His plan to fix our kitchen sink to give it "more power" definitely backfired and now, the sink is totally clogged and water refuses to go down the drain at all!

I did not know whether to laugh or to cry but that's my darling hubby for you! It's sweet that he wanted to help but perhaps he should stick to stuff that he's well-versed in and not be the plumber at home. Most importantly, "If it's not broken, don't fix it"! So as much as I love my B and appreciate his good intentions, we got no choice but to call the plumber now SIGH!

LIFE ACCORDING TO ME

My Addiction, My Vice

I read an interesting article on the Net last night, which listed 20 reasons to determine your addiction to TV soaps. In my case, I am only addicted to the Bold and the Beautiful seeing that is the only TV soap that I religiously watch and follow. Here are some of my favorite indicators, which I personally feel, makes absolute sense in defining my addiction to B&B:

● You take the phone off the hook while your shows are on. (My clients and friends know better than to call me during my B&B break)
● You actually have withdrawal symptoms when you miss an episode. (Missing an episode of B&B will see me in a cranky mood until I get my next dose of B&B)
● Company comes over to visit and you just want to shut the door in their faces. (Either that, or come join me watch my favorite show together)
● You can't wait to get dinner/lunch ready and sit down and watch the tape while eating. (A quickie meal will be served if B&B is about to come on and it's an episode that I simply cannot miss!)
● You go somewhere and keep looking at your watch every five minutes, afraid you're not going to get back in time for the soaps. (It's a feat to try to get me leave the house when B&B is on and if you manage to do so, I'd make for very restless company!)
● You schedule doctor's appointments, etc. around (their airings) so you won't miss your soaps.(I sometimes postpone my appointments in order to accommodate an interesting episode of B&B)

Aired in over 100 countries, B&B commands an impressive viewership of about 300 million people around the globe; apparently, I am not the only one who can't go without it! I've been hooked on B&B ever since it first aired in 1987. There are so many reasons for my addiction to B&B. I love the dramatic plot twists, the scheming and backstabbing, the endless animosity between Brooke and Stephanie, the beautiful Taylor with her hair and make-up always perfectly in place, the returns from the dead, the deep dark secrets from the past and of course the jet-setting glamorous lifestyle of the Forrester family! Though the story lines tend to exaggerate reality at times, B&B never fails to amuse and entertain me, which is why I find it oh so sinfully addictive!

There is nothing better than unwinding after a hard day's work with a B&B marathon. Once in a very blue moon, B will indulge my B&B addiction by watching an episode or two with me. Our three cats will laze around nearby; amused at how the plots of this show can totally engross their Master sometimes. To me, the only thing better than watching B&B with B and the cats is perhaps watching B&B on a High Definition TV or HDTV!

Second Act is an authorized dealer specializing in HDTVs from many renowned brands including Sharp, Samsung, Toshiba, Denon, Marantz, JVC and Hitachi. They offer a Great Deal of the Day feature that lets you enjoy even bigger discounts for a single item for a limited 24-hour period. To receive notification of the latest Deal of the Day, you can subscribe to them via email or RSS.

I can totally picture myself watching B&B on this 46-inch wide-screen Samsung HDTV LCD, which offers remarkably crisp, high-quality pictures with deep blacks and brilliant colors. My favorite B&B characters would really come to live then! Unfortunately, there is nothing wrong with my current TV and though it is not as advanced or huge as this 46-inch Samsung HDTV, it certainly functions well and is still in mint condition from when we first purchased it about 4 years back. So unless I win the lottery or get a sudden windfall, I guess I will not be enjoying B&B on any HDTV sometime soon. If you have the extra cash to splurge on an HDTV, feel free to stop by Second Act and make your selection there. Don't forget to check out the Great Deal of the Day too!

Letter for B

Dear Hubby,

I hope this post finds you in a wonderful mood because I am about to make a rather big request, one that I think will benefit both of us in the long run. I know we’ve discussed this before and before you say no, just hear me out.

Okay, here goes … I think it's about time we purchase a dishwasher! It is the one important appliance missing from our kitchen. Getting a dishwasher will also make things easier for you and me and here’s why.

Firstly, a dishwasher will be a huge help in the kitchen. It is extremely convenient and time-saving; I'll be able to spend less time doing the dishes and more quality time with you. It will also put me in a better mood knowing that my hands won’t suffer further from all the washing I’ve been doing all these years. That means my hands will be less tired and more willing to give you more of the foot massage you love so much!

Secondly, a dishwasher helps to sanitize dishes and reduce the risk of illness from bacteria and germs. You know how particular I am about cleanliness so a dishwasher will definitely come in handy. It will put my mind at ease knowing that we will be enjoying our food and drinks using clean sanitized plates and glasses.

Thirdly, a dishwasher minimizes breakage by reducing handling of the dishes. We both know how clumsy I can get sometimes; remember when I tripped over Phoebe and broke your favorite mug? Imagine the money we can save if I were to break fewer things!

Finally yet importantly, a dishwasher will help keep the kitchen neater and clutter-free. You will no longer need to complain about the dirty dishes piling up when I’m too busy to wash them immediately. Less stress for you and no mess in the kitchen!

To make things easier for you, I’ve shortlisted several wonderful Maytag Dishwasher options that I think you might like. The MDC4650AW Maytag Dishwasher for instance sounds great! No pre-rinsing required and it has a food disposer as well. It can fit in a huge amount of dirty dishes and the top rack is removable to fit in our pots and pans.

As you can see, I did my research well before presenting you with this request. By now, I’m sure you are in complete agreement that a Maytag Dishwasher is indeed a good investment. We’ll get to enjoy the convenience we both love so much and it will give me more time to spend with you instead of being stuck in the kitchen doing the dishes! So what do you say? Feel like going dishwasher shopping this evening?

Love,

Sinus No More

Some of you might already know that I suffer from sinus problems. Although I am currently on medication for this medical condition, I still need to avoid certain things that can trigger off a sinus attack including seafood (which I love!), cat fur or dust. Let me tell you that it is not a pretty sight whenever I get one of my attacks! My eyes get all puffy and watery, my nose turns red and I end up sneezing non-stop, for hours on end! I can go through an entire box of tissue in less than an hour and this will continue for several days sometimes.

Living with 3 adorable cats however means constantly ensuring a clean and fur-free environment. I try to vacuum as often as possible but that alone is insufficient as I still do get the occasional sinus attack. My cats also have their own cosy homes, which I keep clean. However, they still need to come out ever so often to stretch their legs and run around for several hours during the day and night. That is when they decide to run wild and chase each other, running around the condo, climbing all over our furniture and wrestling each other… all the while leaving trails of fur behind them!

Chubbs cat-napping on B's piano

Benji's favourite spot for some R&R is on top of our table

And lil' Phoebe loves exploring every nook and cranny!

As much as I love my cats, I still need to find a way to keep my sinus attacks at bay. The thought of keeping my cats locked up in their homes 24/7 to avoid the unhealthy dust bunnies they cause is simply unbearable, which is why I have decided to get a Hunter Humidifier for our home instead. A Hunter Humidifier will increase the indoor air quality by removing allergens and dust particles from my home. This in turn will definitely help deter my sinus attacks! I hope that investing in a Hunter Humidifier will ensure my kitties the continued freedom to roam around freely while their Master gets to enjoy a cleaner, healthier and sinus-free environment!