Month: August 2011

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Bedside Table/Drawers

So I finally settled for a Wicker’s emporium Maize 3 drawers storage for a bedside table and plus it was 50% off – so I bought it for my bedroom. I had wanted it in a different color – but they only had this color or the multi-colored ones – so I settled for this color since our bedroom’s furniture are almost all brownish in color. Looking kinda gloomy I know you are gonna say – but not to worry because I ordered a painting from Etsy – and am looking forward to getting it – that way I can add a splash of color to our bedroom. I feel that it is time to dress up our bedroom since we haven’t for this long. We’ve been in this house for almost 7 years now and as surely as I am trying to dress it up – everything seems desperately slow – because I just can’t find anything I really liked. And I won’t settle for less or just an item – that I mediocrely liked. Like for my tv room/living room I would really like to get some calligraphy work for the living room – but of course to do so – I would have to go home for it – because you need to be quite selective – as to who write the calligraphy for you. Oh well – we’ll just have to wait then.

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Hurricane Irene

So Hurricane Irene is coming our way – everyone in the East Coast was warned and told to be prepared. We don’t know what is going to come this way – it’s a hit and miss around here but everyone is busy putting away their patio furniture and swing set – and anything that is left out in the yard. We are very lucky because we have a wooden swing set that is nailed deep down into the ground – and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. So each time we have high wind or bad weather – the only thing that doesn’t need moving around is the wooden swing set. We bring in the trampoline, the patio set, the cloth hangers and even the mosquito net comes right down. I hope we won’t get a lot of wind and rain – because it can get nasty – so are you prepared for Hurricane Irene?

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Studying In Canada

So someone wrote to me the other day – about sending her kids to Canada to finish their studies – and wants my opinion about it. In which my reply was – that if they do send their kids here – they will fair a lot better than most Canadian kids because foreign kids are much more competitive than our Canadian students. The teachers in Canada loved exchange students and they in turn learned about other cultures and also the different weather – if they come from Malaysia, Singapore of even Indonesia. Here in this town, we see lots of foreign students but sad to say – they are not as exposed as they should be.

So before sending your kids here – make sure you get them to the right school – the right area – a lot of kids do not like to be in small town – and they have no choice – after coming here – because they have nothing to do once school is over. If you are seriously thinking of sending your kids here to finish their high school – check out both Halifax area – as well as Vancouver – I know you have to pay a little more – but I think your kids will be more accustomed to that area instead of places like a small town. If you can – try to make sure that you go and visit the place before sending your kids here with just a brochure – brochures are meant to lie.

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Getting Married In Canada

So you found a Canadian boyfriend and he gave you the ring – and proposed – so you want to get married in Canada? or should you get married in your home country and then do it all over again in Canada? Or is it legal to get married in your home country and not bother when you come back to Canada – since you are thinking of moving to Canada with him some time right? Well, of course, if he decided to move to your home country – now that would be a different story and of course you wouldn’t be reading this right?

Well, whatever you decide – you will have to think of what you are going to do first – for immigration purpose. Getting married in your hometown – doesn’t automatically make you a Canadian resident or a Canadian citizen as far as I know – in fact – getting married away from Canada – may post a little more complicated than you think when trying to migrate to Canada. From my experience – I strongly suggest – you come to Canada first as a tourist – apply for a marriage license here – get married here and then do your immigration from here – while you have a tourist status. Usually, Canadian immigration will grant you a 6 months visitor pass – and that is enough to get your application going. But my experience is only my own – my 2 cents – so don’t hold it against me – if yours work out differently. Good luck!

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Boating Safety Tips for Kids

As adults boaters, we learn a great deal about safety on the way to earning our boat license. What we often don’t learn, however, is how to share these skills with our children. This can be tricky business because kids tend not to learn well when they’re disinterested and when we overload them. The key then is to seize their attention and to expose them to the information in bite-sized chunks.

Image Source: http://www.worldfishingnetwork.com/news/last-call-for-kids-safety-program-72624.aspx

Here are a series of tips that should help:

Tip #1: Teach the kids to swim, and make sure they have ocean experience. Swimming in the ocean is a very different experience, and those with pool-only practice may freeze up in an emergency.

Tip #2: Once the children know how to swim, introduce them to personal flotation devices (PFDs), and explain to them why a PFD is so important. Stress the importance of wearing a PFD at all times, and give them experience wearing the PFD in and out of the water before their first boat trip.

Tip #3: Don’t wait until the first time on the water. Acclimate kids to your boat while you have it on the trailer parked at your house. Make a game out of understanding the terminology, safety locations, danger zones and so forth.

Tip #4: Ensure that they understand the risk of horseplay while on the water, and a great way to avoid this type of behaviour is to give children seated responsibilities while you are driving. If they are having fun and feel as if they are doing something important, they will continue to focus on that activity.

Tip #5: Stress the importance of sitting at all times while the boat is in motion. Standing is only OK when the boat is stopped, and stress that it is never all right to sit or stand on the sides of the boat.

Tip #6: Expose children to all of the equipment on board, and let them learn how to operate it. Begin teaching children how to operate and drive the boat at a very young age. This can prove invaluable in an emergency, and the safest boaters are self-reliant boaters.

Tip #7: However, stress that it is never OK to use that equipment without adult supervision unless there is an emergency. It also important to be strict about your rules, so if the child breaks them, they should lose boating privileges.

Tip #8: While on the boat, always set a good example. Don’t let kids be around adults who don’t take the experience seriously. Keep your eyes on them at all times, and consider using a safety harness for particularly young children who may stray on larger boats.

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She’s A City Gal Alright!

A few days ago – Chloe had a chance to go to Ellenwood Park with the summer camp. She was quite worried to be honest – but like any parents – we want to teach her independence, so we encouraged her to try it out. I have to mention here that this is the first time she is going somewhere without her family – so I have to give her credit for it. But her camp leaders are people that she had known for 2 summers now – so we are confident that they will take good care of them.

So how did it go? well, she came back with a sucker (leech) bite but she was ok. But her biggest complain was that the outhouses stink so bad – she cannot use the outhouse. You see here in Yarmouth, it’s nothing like back home – they don’t have toilets in the camping ground nor the beaches – there are outhouses – meaning no flushing system – eeeewwwwwkkk! right? yes very ewwwwwkkk!! so I really don’t blame her – for not wanting to go to Ellenwood park without us. My city gal!

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Children Using The Puffer

Chloe wasn’t a happy camper when she first had to use the puffer – in fact, she was so scared – she covered her mouth – her nose – and make us count 1 to 10 for like a few times and still she wouldn’t use the puffer. She was crying so bad – that her dad got so mad with her – he threw the puffer away. Yes ! such JOY! I wasn’t too impressed with PB of course – but I didn’t say anything – because Chloe was hyperventilating by that time. Well, she did finally use the puffer that night and got better every day. In fact, she got so good at it – she put the puffer and the aerochamber together now and use it herself – without any help.

She’s an expert now – yes! children can get scared of strange things – but they are but children right? so if your child needs the puffer – please have a little bit of patience – don’t be like PB please – *slap forehead* you should have seen how scared chloe was when PB got mad. Adults gotta know that when we get angry – our children get really scared – some may not act that way – but deep inside they are – every child wants their parents approval. Didn’t you want your parent’s approval too when you were kids?

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Fairly Fashionable

My nephew who will be attending University during this fall called to ask me about getting a new wardrobe for school. He thinks I’m fairly fashionable and would like me to go shopping with him and his mom – he was petrified that he would have to dress up the way his mom wants him to in University. I can completely understand his predicament – because my mom was the same way when I was a young adult – she wanted me to wear frilly stuff *slap forehead*. I found some armani exchange coupons for him and told him where he can go look at some of the more fashionable clothes and to show his mom what he liked before going shopping – that way she has an idea – what is suitable for him now. Like all moms – I can understand where his mom is coming from – but I’ve also been a young adult before and can sympathize with him. So here’s a win- win situation – for I really think that AX clothing are a great buy.

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No Expensive Presents Please!

So you all know that Chloe was sick for like 10 days right? when she got her needles last Monday – to draw blood out for her blood test – she was screaming her lungs out. I wasn’t there but PB and a dear friend who works for the lab department was there to witness it. But PB had promised Chloe a reward for being brave and letting them draw blood – so they had gone to Walmart and gotten her some go-gos but not just any go-gos – but a box of it – special edition – which cost PB closed to $23 !!!! *slap forehead*.

For those who are not aware of this – I don’t like to get Chloe expensive presents – because she really don’t need expensive toys. Giving her a dollar store reward is just as good – and when we do get her go-gos – they are the ones that are $3 for 3 pieces – not a bunch for $23 !! that’s too much money to be spent on a kid for one day. I don’t want Chloe to learn that it is alright to spend so much money on toys.

Many a times – when I asked Chloe’s grandparents for money for her watch or books isn’t because I don’t have the money to get them myself – but I am trying to show her that some of her things comes from her grandparents and uncle too. But when I tell Chloe to tell her uncle or grandfather that they owe me a few bucks for Chloe’s stuff – it’s to tell her that they are the ones who bought them for her and not us. We also want to show Chloe that they care for her too- and know what she likes since they normally don’t know what she likes and what to buy for her. But I never asked anyone to get anything expensive for Chloe – it’s just a gesture – to teach Chloe that she is being thought of – even by her extended family. Should I asked her grandparents or uncle to get something really expensive – I would return in kind – like the Rum that we had bought for her grampie – because I want to teach Chloe that she cannot take only and never give back. So no – no expensive toys from us – and when PB bought that go-gos for $23 – I wasn’t impressed. And for those who hear me telling Chloe’s grandparents or uncle – that they owe me money for Chloe’s stuff/toys – it’s not because I’m hard up for their money – but moreso – to show Chloe that her gifts comes from her grandparents and uncle too – because her Godma from Singapore and my friends/cousins from around the world buys her so many things – Chloe is no short of anything – be it clothing or toys.

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Owner By Association

As owner by association to the spouse’s business – I still have to worry about what is going on in the store – and our financial situation and dealing with customers as well as suppliers. Although I tell people that it’s all about PB – it’s not true as we all know it – my ears and eyes are always open and when I am at the store – I play both the good guy and the bad – while PB plays the boss. If you’ve ever run a business – you will know that there is more than meet the eyes – those that think that we are sleeping on money – must be crazy. I wished we had a friend or a business lawyer – like the raleigh business lawyers who handles all aspect of dispute and negotiation for businesses. But in a small town like ours – PB don’t think that there is one that specializes in doing just that. And even though we are a small business – it is always good to have someone who knows all about dealing with irate customers – or what we can do at our store and not do. There are so many little things that I would like to ask our business lawyer if we had one – and since we don’t have one – we are always worrying if we can do certain things or if the cops came for somethings that were sold to us – that were reported stolen – what are our rights as store owners. So yes! being an owner by association – is not as easy as some of you might think – I still worry a lot about the ins and outs of the store.