Palette Pampering Prawns

Either winter came early this year, or it was a colder autumn.

So we decided to regain some warmth by pampering our palettes...

With some lightly marinated pork, boiled eggs, some greens,

accompanied by a bowl of slightly spicy soup base...

not to forget some fresh prawns,

Here's our end product - Har Mee

or noodles with juicy delicate prawns sprinkled with fried onions..

Thanks to our main chef - Chef Wan

$1 <> $1

With the economy downturn beginning to slow down, people are scrambling to find ways hopefully to spend less and save more. I read a zillion of articles and blogs nowadays that teach us tips not on how to stop spending, but to maximize our spending; that is, buy and still save a tonne of money!

Like everyone, I like to buy more than what I paid. I'm not an expert on this matter (I think everyone is still and never stops learning) and I can't provide any magic tips. I just apply what I read and learn from its outcome. Let me share my "report card" with you:

Item: Guess Pea Coat

Original Price: $225

Item Markdown: -$155.03 (70%)

Younkers Card coupon: -$17.49 (25%)

What I paid: $52.48 only (with tax)

Challenge/Tips 1: Buy only when there discounts and promotion prices.

Outcome: Checked.

I didn't shop for the last 2-3 months until this weekend when Younkers had their sales events offering deep discounts up to 70%.

Challenge/Tips 2: Buy only what you need.

Outcome: Checked.

I need a new jacket since two years ago was the last time I bought one and also, I never had this type of coat before.

Challenge/Tips 3: Search for additional discounts

Outcome: Checked.

Yes, signing up for Younkers card proved useful when they send a coupon that allows you to take 25% off the purchase price AND you can use it over and over again! ( It's still available until Wednesday!)

Challenge/Tips 4: Bring along an expert

Outcome: Checked.

This is not found in any other money-saving tips articles but I learnt it from my personal experience. Besides being the fashion consultant, she ( or, he, as it might be in your case) also provides fresh and independent opinion (even though most of the time from their natural and always true gut-feelings).

In short, turning those tips into actions do work, at least for me! No more guilt from purchasing the dream coat that you see in the store. Rather, the super-high satisfaction level that I'm enjoying right now is worthless.

****I probably could do a better job on the photo next time.

Feeding my blog

W: I like to use the new iGoogle, it puts everything on one webpage: weather, emails, and news feed.

D: Oh?? you know how to use news feed??

W: Of course I do, whenever XXX's blog has an update I will know from the feed.

D: Yayaya, you know my blog also have feeds, you can add mine on your page so whenever I update my blog then you'll know at once!

W: Yeah right, I'll have to wait 3 months to wait for ONE notification!

I have a feeling I might start writing actively AGAIN...just don't know when

Goldmines

I think it’s time to start paying some attention to this blog again, isn’t it? Every time a new record was created for the period of abandonment. From 1 week to 1 month, and now what, 2 months? Great!

But really working is nothing exciting; Not that it does not attract me every day, but who would want to listen to someone rambling about how thrilled they are sitting in the 3-wall shoulder-height cube, with each eye glued to each of the two monitor screens side-by-side while clicking the mouse with the right hand fingers and typing with the left hand fingers…

I found this interesting list of Top-paying university degrees. All of them need mathematical skills, according to the article. And Actuarial Science, almost making into Top 10, is far behind Petroleum Engineering, whose graduates get $83000 right off college!



Even Computer Science pays higher rewards, people should just start running away from Actuarial Science!

Graduated!

I'm officially a university graduate!
After so many years of studying and school going
Finally I can stop thinking about all these and get on with life

Another thing to rejoice (and hence stopped me from updating this blog =P )
was my family's trip to the US for my commencement ceremony, though I was more excited about the trip to the West Coast that followed

We went to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco in 10 days!
All 7 of us traveled in a spacious 7-seater and I became the driver
Vegas is full of casinos, Los Angeles nice place and San Francisco great view

And now I'm back in this old Des Moines
Working every day from morning till night
I'm excited for this summer
for there are tonnes of stuff to do, again

It just never stops**

FINALLLLLYYYYYYY

The last day of classes ever....
No more..talak..haBis...玩完...没了
That's it!

I have mixed feelings now...
excited to be done done with school...
But not looking forward to the finals next week.

Susan Boyle - the latest Star (2)

The last video clip was just a introductory video about Susan Boyle, the latest star in town! If you do not know her, she's a 47-year-old, never-been-kissed Scottish woman who were given this expression by an audience;


but got this from Simon Cowell when she sings in Britain's Got Talent;


and also an invitation to sing and record a duet with Elaine Paige, her idol.

"Ever since Susan's appearance on Britain's Got Talent my Radio 2 inbox has been flooded with emails," Paige wrote on her website, "It seems her performance has captured the hearts of everyone who saw it, me included ... it looks like I have competition! Perhaps we should record a duet?" [Guardian]


Here's the full version, for those of you who wants to know more about her!!

Susan Boyle Singer Britains Got Talent 2009 With Lyrics @ Yahoo! Video