When we were at Walmart, I saw these two gardening toys on sale for $1 each plus sales tax. They are so cute, don’t you think so? Of course, I bought them both so my son can join me when I am doing yard work. How he likes the toys? A LOT! He enjoys it so much that he wants to go out every evening to do yard work. Now I may need to go find child size gloves for him too.

I’ve been wanting to open a separate checking account for my blogging income and expenses. There are many free checking accounts offer by different banks. I will have to spend some time in this to find out which bank I want to give my business to. Some banks offer a small interest for the checking account and some offer none. Some banks do offer free checks and some banks don’t. The banks that offer free checks may only have one design for you to choose from. But this may not be my priority as I always can get cheap custom business checks online through Vista Print.

How usually do you like your checks to look like? I like mine to have multiple scenes with either nice scenery or cute little animal. I like to have different fonts for my name and address. If I can add an accent icon or monogram to the check, that would be an additional feature I like to have. I can do all these at Vista Print Business Checks with the best pricing and best printing quality. And now you can even save more with Vista Print when you order checks from them. Just use this coupon code at check out - Checks25, will help you to save an additional 25% off Checks on their already low pricing.

I went to Marukai 98 cents store on Hawthorne Blvd in Torrance. And found myself ended up walking out from the store with the purchase of two different types of dish container for bento box. The oval shape are silicon material dish containers which the colorful round shape dish containers are paper with plastic coated material.  The paper cup comes in 20 pieces.

Both sold for $1.50 plus sales tax each. I like the silicon dish as they are easy to wash and very flexible. I haven’t try using the small round container yet, but will only use it if I have dips or sauce to put into the bento box.

You want to know how to get your hand on one of the free 30 laptops offered by Charter Communications? It is easy. Visit Charter Laptop-a-Day Giveaway and order one of their communication services including telephone, high-speed internet or Charter Digital Home™ service. You will be automatically entered into the giveaway to win one of their 30 HP Compaq Presario C770US Laptops, each over $600 value.

I would apply for their high-speed internet service if they are available in my area as it is currently the Best Back to School Deal online right now for high speed internet services. If you do not have any internet access or if you are paying more than what they are offering, you may want to switch over to Charter Communications. The deal is you only pay $19.99 per month for the first 6 months saving you up to $200. Successful applicants will also receive a FREE $25 Shell Gift Card and a chance to win one of the 30 HP Compaq Presario laptops. 

If you are looking for high-speed internet, telephone as well as cable channels, sign up for the three services with them and you will receive a FREE $100 Shell Gift Card as well as entering into this giveaway contest. Don’t wait too long, this offer will end at 12:00 p.m. CT September 22nd 2008.

When Best Buy was having a sale on this Targus Groove Laptop Backpack a few weeks ago, I bought 1. I had wanted to get one for my brother when he was around town three four months ago, but there wasn’t any sale on Laptop Backpack back then. He has just bought himself a new Dell 15.4″ Laptop and this will definitely be in good use, when the product actually get to him. He is now back in Malaysia and the backpack is waiting either for him to come over to pick up or if anyone from US is heading back there, whom can help me to personally courier to him. But in the meantime, it is shipping in my closet.

This backpack is very simple with less compartments than I wish it would have. But it was only selling at $9.99 plus sales tax, so I couldn’t be expecting more of it. It is a good backpack for normal daily use if the person doesn’t need as many compartments as some other Targus Laptop Backpack has. For those backpacks, the price may be over $40. So for a cheap laptop backpack, this will do the job just right.

Do you have friends in Minneapolis? Planning a short there visit soon? If you are not familiar with the city and need help looking up for businesses contact information when you are there, try DexKnows dot com. You may be able to find your friend contact information is listed in their Minneapolis Phone Book.

If you want, you can plan ahead and organize a party with your friends. Glance through the Pizza in Minneapolis listings in DexKnows dot com and place your order of pizza from the websites. You can also read reviews about how others like or dislike a particular restaurant.  It seems like a lot of reviewers gave a high rating for the Park Tavern, voted the best bowling center by Minneapolis/St Louis Magazine.  Try it and add your own review to share with other readers. 

This bento box is so cute. I had wanted to purchase this box for a long time but wasn’t sure how I was going to use it. That particular time when I was at the 98 cents Marukai on Artesia Blvd., I just bought it. I washed it and store it away. I didn’t get to use it yet as I haven’t start making any lunches/snacks for my boy to bring to school. He has yet to start school. But then my blogger friend showed me that I can also serve bento to my son at home. So I took it now and waiting for the right time to use it.

This is a two tiers bento box, the bottom container is a little smaller than the top. There is a clear hard plastic cover on the top to store the utensils such as a fork/spoon. Each container has a flexible plastic for cover. These covers have bad plastic/rubber smell to it. I am leaving them to air out the smell. The bottom container can be place inside the top container to save on storage space. I will probably need to get a band to wrap around this bento box so that it will not fall apart if we take it out. For home use now, we just use the containers without the cover.

I know many of you may be looking for low cost auto insurance. I can understand some of you might have to pay a high expensive auto insurance and have no traffic violation or traffic accidents. Why not try to get a quote from Cost U Less Insurance Center. You can also call them at their toll free number to ask for a quote. Their toll free number is 800-586-4948. Good luck on the quote. Hope this will help you to save some money on your auto insurance.

When I saw one of my blogger friend got many of her bento stuff from her recent trip to Singapore, I was so envy of her collection. I went on to find my own at the Japanese stores in Los Angeles area. I was only able to find a few and not as much as she did. Still trying to find the cute micket mouse sandwich cutter like the one she has.

These items below are my Bento Supply Collection #1. Each cost $1.50 and I found them at Marukai 98 cents store on Artesia Blvd.

Total out the door including tax was $11.37. Now I need to find an empty spot in the kitchen to store them.

My aunt served so much food to us when we were back in Kuala Lumpur. I had 5 meals a day, breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner and supper. I also had a lot of sweet cakes and local delicacies which is high in sugar and carbohydrates. When I returned to US, the first thing I did was getting on a weighing scale. I put on SEVEN big fat pounds!

It might not be a major matter to most of you but to me it did. My husband immediately noticed the extra pounds around my hip area. Considering myself a short stature, the SEVEN pounds is like SEVENTEEN pounds. I can understand that It’s Not Your Weight That Matters–It’s How Much of Your Weight is Fat, but I know the extra pounds I put on is definitely FAT. I can feel it there in my hip.

Press Release:

Fitness Assessment: Measure Your Fat, Not Your Weight
It’s not how much you weigh, it’s how much of your weight is fat.
Simple test determines your fat content, health risks.

Carpinteria, CA – August 20, 2008 - Within the past week, the American Heart Association, Journal of the American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society have cited new studies that seem to indicate the deteriorating health of Americans may not be related solely to weight–but to declining overall fitness levels.

While it is virtually impossible today to remain oblivious to the importance of exercise for staying healthy, there has been a marked emphasis on “weight” versus “fitness” in western society’s perception of health and wellness. Consequently, many people of “normal” weight continue to be uniformed of the fact that they may still be at risk for elevated levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar if they lead a sedentary (inactive) lifestyle.It has long been known that there are adverse effects associated with physical inactivity. Adults who are less active are at greater risk of dying of heart disease and developing diabetes, colon cancer, and high blood pressure. Illnesses related to physical inactivity and poor diet cause at least 300,000 deaths each year in the U.S.

Body mass index (BMI), which is calculated through a height-to-weight ratio alone has been the standard method of measuring a person’s “fatness” or “thinness” since 1950’s and 60’s, when obesity was becoming a noticeable medical concern in the U.S. As a result, being at a “normal” BMI weight is not necessarily a reliable indicator of health.

In fact, physically active individuals who have more lean tissue than their sedentary counterparts, as well as taller people, often have a BMI that classifies them as obese when they actually have healthy body fat levels. Likewise, and more dangerous, slender or thin but inactive individuals often have a BMI that puts them within normal, or even underweight, ranges when they actually have high levels of body fat.

Because of the overemphasis on BMI that has developed over the last few decades, these “skinny fat” people often remain unaware that they are at an elevated risk for developing diseases typically associated with obesity until they are already facing health issues.

According to the International Sports Sciences Association, an organization that has educated and certified personal trainers for more than 2 decades, using a quick but reliable method of measuring various body circumferences (e.g. neck, thighs, upper arm, waist, hip) to assess total body fat better determines one’s body composition (fat vs muscle) than BMI alone. Measuring circumferences also provides personal trainers and clients with a very easy way to gauge clients’ progress.

“For people to begin to take a proactive approach to their health, they really need to know what their percentage of fat versus muscle is.” said Dr. Sal Arria, CEO and Co-Founder of the ISSA. Dr. Arria goes on to add, “most studies have shown that by just adding ONE circumference measurement at the waist to BMI, you can better predict a patient’s risk for type 2 diabetes and for all-cause mortality. Waist circumference is also about twice as good at predicting future coronary heart disease than BMI alone.”

The ISSA believes that personal trainers and health clubs should be utilizing circumference measurements as another tool to assess body fat because trainers can achieve proficiency with a few hours of practice and when done properly, the results can be replicated.

Patrick Gamboa, ISSA Vice President of Education, cautions that a person’s true fitness cannot be assessed by body measurements alone. True fitness must also take into account strength, aerobic capacity and flexibility measurements to most accurately predict longevity. Most gyms offer this type of assessment for free to their members.

About the ISSA
Since 1988, the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) has provided certification and continuing education to more than 100,000 wellness professionals in 85 countries around the globe. The ISSA offers a core personal training certification as well as eight additional specialized fitness certifications.

What do you do when you always feel tired and have no energy? For us Chinese, we double boil some ginseng to drink. It really works. At least for me. Lately, I’ve been sleeping late and waking up lately. I explain my situation to my aunt and she reminded me to boil some ginseng to drink. Because I am always so busy during the night time, it didn’t come up to me to do this. The best time to drink is before you sleep. So we start boiling it in the evening for 3 hours.

I used 1/4 of an ounce with two small bowl of water for two person. Double boil it for 3 hours. If you have sliced American Ginseng, then just use as sliced. If you have the whole ones, you may have to boil it half way and slice them.

These are some I bought for my aunt when I return to KL as gifts. They like it very much as this is very expensive item over in Malaysia. There are different grades of American Ginseng. You have to go to a reputable store so the honest sales assistants can help you choose the best type in your price range.

How I wish I have a nice beautiful front yard. Our front yard has grass in the center, a fruit tree, three planter boxes and metal fence surrounding the area. After watching Landscaping Challenge and Curb Appeal on the Cable TV, I want my front yard to look like any one of them. These front yards will let out a woo-ahh from the neighbors.  Unfortunately, my front yard will never look half as good as the ones they showed on the TV. And with the tight law of watering in Los Angeles, we have a brownish front yard now as we can only allow to water the grass 15 minutes a day after 5pm.  That’s not enough.  May be if I live in Orlando then I might not have to worry about watering the yard. Then I can find someone from Orlando landscaping to help with decorating my front yard and recommending the different low maintenance plants and trees.

Ethan looks very cute in his little blue polo shirt. When I saw this green one on sale at The Children’s Place for only $6 with additional 50% off at the register, I bought it. The total with tax came out to be $3.22. Then I had to mail it to him together with the other tops I got him and some DVDs. Average out the mailing cost, it is about $2.50 for this shirt, very close to the cost of the shirt itself. But I think it might still be cheaper than buying a similar one in South Australia.

My hair is thinning. I am not sure if is my hormone or what. But I notice just recently a lot of hair dropped on the laminated floor. I have to vacuum it very often to avoid the ‘look’ from my husband. As my friend put it, we are ’shedding’. That sure doesn’t sound too good. We need help.

When it comes to hair replacement Los Angeles Aventi Laser Hair Therapy may be able to provide the solution. The technology is proven to work. With Low Level Laser Hair Therapy, it increases oxygen and stimulates blood circulation in the scalp area. It works for both men and women. Anyone can call for a free consultation at their toll free number. I am going to submit an online form now to have one of their consultants to call me to arrange for a free microscopic hair and scalp analysis plus one complimentary hair laser treatment, a $250 value.

Getting kids to hook on brushing is good. It helps to give him a healthy teeth and gums. My son loves brushing and we bought these Disney Winnie the Pooh Oral-B toddler’s toothbrush for him from Target. They are the Winnie the Pooh and Tigger designs.  This is the right size for toddler … well they were meant for them.  I change this once every 6 months or depending how soon the brush deteoriate.  Sometimes toddler just loves to chew on them with the tooth paste on.  If I remember, I paid like $2.50 plus sales tax for each of them.