Energizing Skin October 17, 2007
Posted by The Giddy Tiger in : Rainmakers , 1 comment so farOh my, it has been ages since I last had my facial. If I remember correctly, the last time I had it was before my wedding. After that, I was just too busy and only managed to make do with mini facials at home. Well, I think it is about time that I indulged again. My face has been subjected to so many environmental factors that I am having nightmares just thinking about it. The last thing I would want is to succumb to wrinkles and pigmentation… eeek.
However, the one thing that is standing in my way of having facials is that I am unwilling to sacrifice quality time with my family during the weekends. A facial can take anything from an hour and a half to three, and with time being so precious, I have a hard time fitting this into my weekend schedule. I am contemplating taking a day off to get my facial done too, you know…but my pathetic annual leave balance stares blankly back at me.
Well, maybe I ought to consider converting my do-it-myself mini facials at home into a full-blown facial. I bet these fantastic products from ORIKI Cosmeceuticals would come in handy. They have got serums and masks aplenty. Since I love experimenting with new beauty products, this would be a good opportunity for me to do so. What caught my eye was the interesting kits they have on sale; some are specifically designed for whitening and some for revitalizing the skin. And with a sweet-sounding name like Oriki, which means “Weaving Life Energy into Your Skin”, I could tell that many have benefited from its all-natural ingredients, judging by the number of testimonials that can be seen on the site. Well, one of the things I look for when I use beauty products is the fact that it contains hypoallergenic properties, which I am happy that Oriki has. In addition, Oriki products boast that they do not contain hydroquinone, which is an ingredient that should be avoided by anyone with Asian, Mediterranean and Olive skin (AMO). That’s what makes Oriki special: all its products are formulated *for*AMO skins.
So what do you think, should I give this a shot in favor of going for a facial? It would certainly enable me to spend more quality family time, that’s for sure.
Fashionably Saving the Earth October 15, 2007
Posted by The Giddy Tiger in : Blogging, Thoughts & Scribblings , 11commentsWho would have thought that I would be raving about and advocating the use of cloth diapers now? Who would have envisioned that a lazy person like me would be convinced enough to switch from using disposable diapers to cloth diapers?
Well, I am surprised at the decision I have made too, but I think it is for the best that I have been converted.
It has been a month and a half now that I have been using cloth diapers on Ethan. A month and a half of laundering diapers almost every day, sometimes worrying if they would dry on time. My decision to use cloth diapers on Ethan is primarily because I had read that using cloth diapers result in lower scrotal temperature for the baby. Plus, it is definitely more comfortable for him, without a doubt.
In addition, I am all for the use of cloth diapers because in the long run, the use of these cloth diapers would benefit the environment. Think about it. If everyone switched to cloth diapers, there would be a significant reduction in landfills worldwide. I read somewhere that disposable diapers (soiled with human waste and excrement) takes years and years to disintegrate. After so much money and effort has been spent on implementing a sewerage system to rid the earth of diseases caused by human waste, disposable diapers are bringing them all back into the environment! Isn’t that absurd?
Lastly my decision was also driven by the fact that these cloth diapers weren’t exactly your run-of-the-mill old-fashioned nappies, rather they came in gorgeous designs and prints. Seeing Ethan wearing them is a novelty in itself, and knowing very well that he is sporting cutting-edge fashion and keeping the earth green at the same time makes it all so much better. Don’t you think my boy looks absolutely adorable in them? 
I’m glad that by switching to cloth diapers, I am doing my bit for the environment, however small that may be.
Read more about my diaper-green passion here:
This post is published in conjunction with Blog Action Day, where blogging participants unite to spread the word about saving the environment in their own unique way.
Do you know Mr Inspiring? October 12, 2007
Posted by The Giddy Tiger in : Relax & Celebrate , 9comments 
If you have the latest copy of the Malaysian Women’s Weekly, you would recognize him as one of the finalists for the “Who’s your favorite Hunky Hubby?” contest. He is Jerad Solomon, Hunky Hubby finalist #01… and the best thing of all is that I actually know this man! You see, Jerad is one of my hubby’s best friends and they were both former classmates. That’s not all, Mr Inspiring right here is the boss of that lingerie store ad I have on my side bar…see? 
And, oh well…I took the liberty to virtually interview Jerad yesterday, … yep, the wonders of technology. He was such a sport, he completed the interview in super quick time!
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Me: Why do you think you have been selected as a finalist?
Jerad: The mag people knew I run Chicwear.com.my (Hema mentioned it in her submission)…so my guess is that’s what got their attention.
Me: Describe your perfect vacation.
Jerad: Island, beach, snorkeling, quietness, sleep…and wife for company.
Me: I know that you pamper yourself with a haircut every month, but have you ever gone for a facial before?
Jerad: Tried it once before and it was quite relaxing actually…..but the steam part kinda made me feel my face was gonna melt off!
Me: What is the first thing you do when you arrive at work?
Jerad: Coffee and emails.
Me: What is the first thing you do when you come home after work?
Jerad: Take off my shoes and change into something more comfortable. No fixed routine for after that….sometimes the net, sometimes house chores, etc.
Me: Whisky, Wine or Beer?
Jerad: Beer for sure. I had the chance to try out some german beers recently and was quite hooked on them.
Me: If you could be a superhero, who would you be, and why?
Jerad: Batman. A cool dude with a fast car and brains.
Me: What kind of exercise do you do to keep in shape?
Jerad: Futsal every week. Try to do more but time and laziness gets in the way sometimes.
Me: What is your favorite TV program now?
Jerad: 24 without a doubt. It’s the best tv series ever. Can’t wait for the next season already. In the meantime I get my regular dose of Prison Break and House.
Me: Any other comments??
Jerad: I had no idea Hema had submitted me for this contest and was totally dumb struck when the mag called and told me I was picked as a finalist. I have never been into this sort of thing and have never experienced a photoshoot before. But I relented and went ahead with it to support her effort. I must admit it was a cool experience in the end. Now my wife accuses me of being a closet celebrity-wannabe!
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But sorry ladies, he just got married last year, i.e. not available anymore …hence him being a “Hunky Hubby” finalist. You can still vote for him in the contest though, and win prizes worth over RM3000! So if you like what you see, vote now for Jerad, by sending an SMS to 32733 with the message MWW<space>HH<space>NRIC<space>NAME<space>01
For example: MWW HH 770606058888 SUSAN LIM 01
Each SMS will be charged RM1, but that is such a meager figure compared to the amount of the prizes, donchafinkso? Voting ends Oct 31, so get SMSing right away! I just sent in mine! *prays that I will win so that MY OWN *Hunky Hubby* will get some of the goodies*
Revival of the Autograph Book October 11, 2007
Posted by The Giddy Tiger in : Memes & Tags , 11comments
Before I left school, my friends and I would exchange autograph books, where we would write a little something about ourselves to help us be remembered. We listed stuff like our favorite entertainers, favorite colors and favorite food, and decorated our autographs with photos and other paraphernalia. Acronyms were created such as F.R.A.N.C.E. which stood for Friendship Remains And Never Can End. I still have my autograph book at home in Ipoh, and I think it would be a hoot to take it out and browse through those pages filled with memories. While some may cringe in embarrassment at what lay beneath the pages of their autograph book, I feel it serves as a reminder of how naïve and carefree we were back then. Ah, the simple life.
I never thought I would be indulging in the autograph craze again, but now it appears that even the autograph book has been transformed online onto blogs, and I am extremely honored that Chinnee has so kindly asked for mine.
#1 What is your favourite movie?
My Best Friend’s Wedding - I love the part where Kimmy sings “I just don’t know what to do with myself…” at the karaoke bar. So out of tune and so karaoke-ish. I tell you, I could watch this movie over and over again without being bored.
#2 Who is your favourite singer?
Andrea Bocelli - beautiful voice, enchanting singer.
#3 Which song gets you grooving in the morning?
Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake - catchy tune, this. And it was the first song that came to my head.
#4 What is your favourite fruit?
The Papaya
#5 Who is your best friend (excluding your family)?
I’ll go with Mei Lee, who has known me since Standard One, and although we don’t meet each other as regularly as we like to, we still keep in touch via email and phone.
#6 Name one activity you would like to indulge in, in your free time.
Reading - trying to do this as often as I can, with a certain amount of success, I am pleased to say.
#7 When was the last time you laughed so hard till your sides hurt?
When Ethan made me laugh with his antics. Sometimes just looking at him makes me laugh.
#8 Do you recall your last dream?
Yes! Last night I dreamt I was savoring food from a splendid buffet spread. And yes, I dream in color.
#9 What is your all-time favourite hobby?
Errr… does sleeping count as a hobby?
#10 When was your last holiday without the children?
Our honeymoon in the Maldives in November 2004.
Can I have the autograph of the following peeps now, please?
If I Could Turn Back Time October 10, 2007
Posted by The Giddy Tiger in : Memes & Tags , 23comments
Scrap Credits: Ronna Penner’s Express Yourself from Scrapadelic.com
I didn’t really like that Cher song actually but the melody just came to me when I started writing this post. Now I will be inundated with it for the rest of the day. Sigh. I wish I could turn back time 5 minutes ago when that song didn’t come to my mind. Haha… Nah, just kidding.
Well, anyway, this tag came from Huisia, who wanted to know that if I had Hiro Nakamura’s powers, which age would I choose to return to, and why?
Hands down, definitely I will choose to return to the time when I was a little girl, probably at age 4 or 5. That’s when I had no worries at all in the world, and lived only to play and sleep and eat. No deadlines to meet and nobody bugging me on the completion date of tasks. No need to wake up early for meetings, dragging my weary self to work feeling like a zombie. No need to worry about car loans and house mortgages. No need to make important decisions like which life insurance policy to take, or which unit trust fund to invest in. The most important decision I had to make was probably to choose if I wanted to wear my own dress shoes or my Mom’s platform shoes. Ah yes. I was a little vainpot even back then.
And now I bequeath the powers of time travelling to:
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Instructions:
Title: The Age That I Wish To Go Back To
Requirement: Write about the one age that you wish to go back to and why?
Tag Mode: 5 bloggers
1st - You leave their blog and post link and add to the list below.
2nd - Let the blogger you want to tag know they been tagged by comment in their blog or etc.
The Age that they Wish to Go Back to:
Amidrin wish to go back to age 22 to correct back some mistakes in life.
Lemonjude wish to go back to age 6 to enjoy kid’s life.
Hui Sia wish to go back to age 16 to meet her first lover again.
Giddy Tiger wishes to go back to a childhood life with no worries in the world.
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My Postie Decision October 10, 2007
Posted by The Giddy Tiger in : Blogging, Rainmakers , 4commentsGetting hooked on blogging has been one of the best decisions I have made. Okay, maybe the decision I made was to start blogging, but getting hooked became part and parcel of the entire thing. I am more observant about my surroundings and how it affects me and I now find ways and means of creating interesting posts to make a dreary topic bearable…well, sometimes. Of course, together with blogging, I made another great decision, which was to become a postie. I consider myself still a newbie to PayPerPost because I have only been a member for slightly over six months, whereas I know of friends who have been members for goodness knows how long!
My experience with PPP has been one rollercoaster of excitement and frustration. Together with my gal pal Rinnah, we constantly shared information on PPP news and announcements including blog advertising, not to mention clueing each other in on the good posts to grab, and also lamenting the fact that “There’s nothing good today!” So yes, PPP has certainly created friendships, at least for me. Being a postie has trained me to write better too. I have to look at different angles of each post in order to make it appeal to my discerning reader. And since I love writing, this is an excellent avenue for me. I have no regrets at all!
What a Breast Cancer Patient needs October 9, 2007
Posted by The Giddy Tiger in : Thoughts & Scribblings , 9comments
I’m going Pink for October and the following post is published in conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month. The following information is strictly my opinion based on articles I have come across and read and also from past experiences of my own.
If you know someone with breast cancer, it can be difficult to talk to them. Most people do not know what to say, for fear of making the patient miserable. We are constantly afraid that words which we think are comforting can sometimes be misconstrued as being too cliché, so much so that the essence of it is lost to begin with. On the other hand, when we don’t say anything and keep silent, the patient might be left to feel as a recluse, not knowing what we feel or think.However, here are a few things I think we should keep in mind when we are with a breast cancer patient:
- Never tell them “You should not have done this” or “You should not have done that”. It is hardly ever their fault that they have cancer to begin with.
- Support them and their choice. If a patient chooses to have mastectomy done instead of just a removal of the breast tumor, don’t undermine their decision.
- Too many suggestions for cancer remedies can overwhelm the patient at times. Some cancer patients smile and take in this information out of courtesy, but try not to force these *tried and tested methods on them.
- Give them a hug and a smile. Sometimes your presence is all the support they need.
- Sometime all they need to hear are things other than cancer. So tell them stories about what you have been up to, and if you have the ability to tell a good joke, go ahead.
- Offer to pray with the patient. Knowing that God is with them, keeping a watch over them is very comforting.
- Just listen. And believe that that your loved one will get well.
More reading material here:
What to say to someone with Cancer
What do you say to someone with Cancer?
Build me a Link October 9, 2007
Posted by The Giddy Tiger in : Rainmakers , 1 comment so farLately, there has been a surge in the number and variety of tags or memes being passed around the blogosphere. I too, have been on the receiving end of some of these tags, and even as we speak, I have several pending ones staring at me from my to-do list.
These tags are purely entertaining in nature but underneath the workings of each, is an attempt to boost a website’s link popularity. I am convinced that each completed tag contributes towards link building in an exponential manner, especially if the post contains a deeper link within it. I find it interesting to note how these tags work, if you really think about it.
Well, tags are not the only manner a blog or website can have its popularity boosted. Many sites nowadays utilize natural search engine optimization tools to ensure their sites are listed at least in the first page of a search query when a search portal is used. When this happens, it is a no-brainer that chances of people clicking on your link and visiting your site is much higher, resulting in, of course, a more popular blog.
However, I still maintain that a site consisting of only good search-engine-optimized terms is meaningless unless the contents of the site appeal to the readers at large. So a balanced of content and popular topics is essential to maintain an interested audience, yes?
Taking a Breather… October 8, 2007
Posted by The Giddy Tiger in : Blogging, Thoughts & Scribblings , 12commentsI was on the phone with a total stranger this morning (don’t ask). Anyway, after exchanging the usual pleasantries, she asked, “Why do you sound so sad?”
You know, short of us hearing our voice recording, we never know what we sound like on the phone. So we have to rely on the other party to tell us what we sound like. So well, I told her my sad tone was because it is Monday today. The beginning of a week, with a ton of work glaring back at me, all needing to be completed before the long Raya holiday break this coming weekend. The upside is that THAT is something to look forward to.
I do have a small favor to ask though. Can you make me feel a tad happier today by updating your links for my RSS feed? Last week, I finally got down to burning my feeds using feedburner, in a quest to find out how many people *care* about what I wrote everytime I waxed lyrical about something. Right now, the number of subscribers for my feed is showing up as a big fat ZERO. So could you please just update it? Thanks a bunch!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go bury my head in my work…
Subscribe to or Update my RSS Feed Now!
Beaming Beemer October 6, 2007
Posted by The Giddy Tiger in : Close to Heart & Home , 11comments
Another birthday, a brand new start
A loving wish that comes from my heart
A feast for your eyes, by no means a temptation
A virtual beemer for your pure satisfaction!
Pssst… Can’t afford a beemer (yet) so this will have to do for now…
Happy Birthday, my love…
Ethan Boy
Our Journey of Love
