Financial Situation

How bad is 行情 now?

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It is definitely getting bad!

Busy with...

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Barack Obama's letter to his daughters

A letter from Barack Obama to his daughters., explaining how he has missed them during his campaign for the White House, why he wanted to be president and what he wants to achieve. He was asked to write the letter by US magazine Parade and here it goes:

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me - about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love,
Dad

Hello Kitty Draw

Another "di gam" at Kai Kai today. Overall luck not too bad. I got 2 sets of crystal bowls, 1 tote bag just perfect for my bento, 1 cushion and 1 pair of shoes (sold the shoes at $15 cause it's a size smaller for me). Total damage today: $35 =)

Hello Kitty Draw

I went to Kai Kai for the hello kitty's "health series" lucky dip today. It is very exciting to see what I've drawed and even exchanged our draw prizes with other friends. Here's my loots from the draw today. Wish I had the big hello kitty die cut lunch plate.... *sigh*

Total damage: $70

(sold my skipping rope in exchange for the salad bowl at $20 and my yellow cup at cost)

A scare

We set off to Johor Bahru today with baby YX at 8.30am and we only managed to cross the customs and reach City Plaza at 11.30am! The first ever heavy traffic jam I've encountered in my whole life! Well, we made it there and had a not so fantastic lunch at Kenny Rogers. YX enjoyed the cheese macaroni as usual. Baby Ken's worrying about my back carrying YX, went to grab the stroller from the car. It took him a long long time (I even fed YX a bottle of milk and changed his diaper). He came back saying he can't locate the car. Well, thinking that he can't recall where he parked his car, I brushed it off saying I can just sling YX and shop while he go settle his matters. When Ken came back, YX was sleeping and he decided to go grab the stroller again. I told him we parked at B3 (BUT I was wrong!). This time, he came back and told me our car is stolen. He could not find it at all! Frantically, we went in search for our car again. Down to B3 we went and indeed it's gone! Ken told me he searched B1 too. We went to B2 this time and our baby Lancer's right there where we parked at lot J3. Hahaa. We were so relieved we hugged each other and woke YX up. What a scare we gave ourselves. Well, guess it's because of JB ba. We were really skeptical about driving in. We won't be visiting so soon now....

Washington DC

I went to Washington DC with a colleague to attend a 4 days conference in Washington DC and was away from Mar 14 - 21. YX stayed over at my mum's place. The flight there was close to 30 hours transiting at Frankfurt and New York! It's a long and tiring flight but a good thing was SIA's meals are great with ice cream, toblerone and chips. The next day, we did some shopping at Potomac Mills Mall. We also managed to squeeze some time out to the Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets for another round of shopping! On the last day before our evening flight, we took the 7am shuttle to the metro station and we took the train to Macpherson Square for some sightseeing. We had wanted to visit the White House but then realised we need to seek clearance from the embassy at least 6 months ahead. The weather's duper cold and we braved the wind walking around for hours. It's a fruitful and enjoyable trip for both of us.

The comfy US89 per night hotel (booked thru hotwire) with complimentary Starbucks coffee

The various mode of transportation we took

Wants... Needs

With the few incidents that have striked us, I have realised that a lot of things are my wants and not my needs. I have learnt not to be too materialistic now. Time to save some money for the rainy days....

Quote Jeffrey Strain:
Live beneath your means.
Spend less than you make.
Don't spend more than you can afford.

Thing you'll really need: A thinking cap, water, food and air!

Driving License

I passed my driving test!!!... upon my 3rd attempt though. Anyway, I hate to take tests. I'd be very tense and worried. The first 2 attempts was bad simply because of silly mistakes caused by my nervousness. Sigh... now that I passed... I went and scratched baby's car (quite bad too) while trying to practise vertical parking at the MSCP. Like this also can! Can some kind soul share with me some pointers on recognising the points? Pls don't ask me to go buy 4 poles, keep in the car boot and bring them out when I need to park! Thanks! =)

Mission Possible!

Remember my mission to lose 10kg? I did it in less than 3 months time. I had successfully shed off 14 kg but now maintaining the 11 kg loss. 3 kg gain back due to my glutton self during the chinese new year! Arggh... well, still very happy that I did it! Next target is to lose another 6 kg! Mission possible?

Happy Valentine's Day

Pix taken in Genting with the family.

My masterpiece - Up for sale!

Ever since my baby arrives, I totally have no time and energy to pick up my hobby again. These are some of the few works I own. Wonder when will I have the courage to work on a new project. Pix taken with compliments from Sophie. Thanks, babe!

Skipping Rope - $350

Grapes on the Vine - $60

Lavender Rope - $18

Flower Bells Hairclip - $25

Butterflies and Leaves - $40 (SOLD)

Blue Rocks! Ring - $25

Mission Possible?

I am on a mission starting from today!
To lose a total of 10kg in 2 months! Watch out for the new me!
(provided I can control snacking and Ken stop tempting me with his Kopi-bing)

Huat.SG

Pounced upon this site called huat.sg
Steady la. Super hard core addicts running out of numbers to buy?
No harm trying.... HUAT AH!!!

Cool animated gif

Check out this old tech animated gif. Cool!

Poem: I Took His Hand and Followed

I Took His Hand and Followed

My dishes went unwashed today,
I didn't make the bed,
I took his hand and followed
Where his eager footsteps led.

Oh yes, we went adventuring,
My little son and I...
Exploring all the great outdoors
Beneath the summer sky

We waded in a crystal stream,
We wandered through a wood...
My kitchen wasn't swept today
But life was gay and good.

We found a cool, sun-dappled glade
And now my small son knows
How Mother Bunny hides her nest,
Where jack-in-the-pulpit grows.

We watched a robin feed her young,
We climbed a sunlit hill...
Saw cloud-sheep scamper through the sky,
We plucked a daffodil.

That my house was neglected,
That I didn't brush the stairs,
In twenty years, no one on earth
Will know, or even care.

But that I've helped my little boy
To noble manhood grow,
In twenty years, the whole wide world
May look and see and know.

Emotional Bank Account

Have you banked in? Are you getting more and more wealthy or are you getting poorer and poorer?

The Emotional Bank Account is a metaphor describing relationships and the P/PC (Production versus building Production Capacity) balance for interdependence. It describes how trust is built on a relationship.

Positive behaviors are deposits building a reserve. Negative behaviors are withdrawals. A high reserve balance results in higher tolerance for our mistakes and more open communication.

There are six major deposits we can make to the emotional bank account:

1. Understanding the individual. An individual's values determine what actions will result in a deposit or a withdrawal for that individual. To build a relationship, you must learn what is important to the other person and make it as important to you as the other person is to you. Understand others deeply as individuals and then treat them in terms of that understanding.


2. Attend to the little things, which are the big things in relationships.


3. Keep commitments. Breaking a promise is a major withdrawal.


4. Clarify expectations. The cause of almost all relationship difficulties is rooted in ambiguous, conflicting expectations around roles and goals. Making an investment of time and effort up front saves time, effort and a major withdrawal later.


5. Show personal integrity. A lack of integrity can undermine almost any effort to create a high trust reserve. Honesty requires conforming our words to reality. Integrity requires conforming reality to our words, keeping promises and fulfilling expectations. The key to the many is the one, especially the one that tests the patience and good humor of the many. How you treat the one reveals how you regard the many, because everyone is ultimately a one.


6. Apologize sincerely when you make a withdrawal. Sincere apologies are deposits, but repeated apologies are interpreted as insincere, resulting in withdrawals.

Abstract from The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Making Marriage Last...

Happy 2008

The Yip family wishes all....
a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

My Business

Fianally, my toy rental biz is up and running! I spent a lot of time and efforts creating the website and I am so glad I pull it through. Introducing ....

GoGoMummy!

Am I in the right career?

Your Career Personality: Detail-Oriented, Observant, and Hard-Working

Your Ideal Careers: Designer Family counselor Independent store owner Interior decorator Museum curator Nurse Preschool teachers Social worker Stay at home parent Teacher

The Quick and Dirty Career Test