Oodles of results

Do you have a tough time finding stuff on the internet? Are you ready to give up on locating that perfect red car for yourself? Well, have a look at this site that is a search engine for classifieds before you give up completely. Oodle is a relatively new site that comes up with millions of local results no matter where you live for a variety of products and services, such as cars, real estate, apartments, jobs, merchandise, tickets, pets and personals. I searched for cars for sale, specifically, Mazda's in the Providence, RI area and came up with some pretty good options with all the details about the car as well as the seller.

Scanning away

Working from home is everyone's dream isn't it! I've been doing it for 6 years now and it's only become better with each passing year. What has really helped make it easier and more streamlined is having a whole host of software applications and gadgets that do so much work for me. The one thing that I use a lot of is my scanner, I just love having a good scanner, and with the one we upgraded to recently, it's a real winner. When it comes to document imaging, one just has to have something that is quick, clear and silent, so it will not bother my daughter's nap time. I scan documents almost everyday, for something or the other, and having something that's reliable, that's not going to mess up and get stuck halfway is very important to me. Ok, now I've got to go scan some stuff!

Making sure you get paid

The economy keeps on changing, the ups and down of business are always ongoing, but what remains is the need to make money, no matter what the economy is. And sometimes, getting money from customers and clients is the hardest part of it all. I mean, you've done the work for them and if they don't pay or play on time, then it's your loss. That's where collection agencies come into help, something that I wish that we had used when a few of our clients refused to pay at the height of the downturn. After a while we just had to cut our losses and when one of them offered to pay just half. And this was one of the big solid companies, not just any small start up kind of company. Well, that's just the way it has been in this economy, and hopefully having a collection agency will make it easier to collect payments.

photo: looking up

Out in my neighborhood one evening, enjoying the fresh air, the pleasant breeze and seeing so many people out and about as well. Kids, dogs, families, all out having fun by the lake now that the weather is lovely and our landscaping even nicer.

Don't you just love getting gift coupons!

When it comes to buying gifts online, Red Envelope has been one of my favorite sites for a long time. I've written about them before too, about how I got some really memorable gifts like the monogrammed watch key chain and several other items that were a hit with the people I gifted them too. With all these gift sites, there are always coupons and vouchers on offer, but very few people seem to use them. I like the idea of getting a coupon, so that I can decide how to use it myself, but sometimes it's just a bit too confusing. I even had one expire before I could get an answer back regarding a question I had about it. So, I was happy to note that the RedEnvelope coupon redemption page was very straightforward and helpful, since I have a coupon to redeem! Yay! Now I'm off to decide what I want to get!

a return to game time

Well, I have to admit it, I'm really not all that great at video games and all that. The few times that I have played them, I have enjoyed it, but got bored with them rather quickly. When it comes to online games, I used to love them, back in the day when I had lots of time on my hands, but eventually I got bored of them too. Who has the time for these kind of things anymore, although sometimes, I want to do something just to take my mind off all the mundane routine of my days, and if you think about it a game is the perfect answer. Well, I know, not perfect, perfect, since that would mean me going outside and really playing a sport, but this is perfect since I can play it when the little one is asleep. Just as long as I don't make too much noise, I suppose! So, does that mean I can go out and buy one of the lean mean looking games, and looking at some of the call of duty modern warfare 3 reviews, it seems that it's a popular choice these days. Hmm, I wonder if I can pull it off!

photo: simple things

Do you ever wonder at how many beautiful moments we just let go by without us noticing. I'm not talking of the big things, but the little things in our daily lives. We are surrounded by beauty, but often we just don't notice it and then we crib about how boring our lives are. That's the beauty of photography. It makes you notice and lets you make these simple moments memorable. Here's some morning sunshine on a bowl of fruits in my home.

time to head to the beach!

Even though summer is over, you still want to head out to the beach right! Well, yes actually, now is the time to be on the beach and really enjoy the beautiful weather to the fullest. It's leading up to the most fun time of the year and if you have a kitted out ATV then it's all the better, especially if its got an atv power steering rigged up, which makes it even more fun to ride, doesn't it! Have you ever been dune bashing? Good fun isn't it! It's a must do activity for everyone who comes here. If you pick the right company and the right location, it's the most fun thing to do, and really everyone must try it out.

crossing 1500 posts

Wow, that's 1500 posts here on this blog. I started this blog in 2005 and have generally been regular about posting here, except for short times here and there, but still, I'm happy that I've reached this milestone. When I started blogging back in 2004, it was such a new format, something that most people hadn't heard of at all. I remember having to explain it to just about everyone all the time. Now it's a completely different story, isn't it. Blogging is something that even 5 year olds know about!

camera or candy?

Once you start off taking photographs, then there seems to be no end to the number of cameras that you want to use. I bought my camera just last year and I'm already thinking of getting another one, or maybe even two. I know they're not candy but in a way they really are! It would be nice to have a high powered camera, more powerful than my current one, but also nice to have something simple as well. I'm quite interested in sony cameras lately, and I've heard lots of good reviews about them. For me, it's important for a camera to be able to multitask, since I want to be able to shoot in zoom as well as do some close ups as well. Having it all in just one camera is tough, but that's what I need right now.

Securing your property

Home security is one of the top concerns of most consumers, right? But a lot of people still don't take it too seriously, I think when it really comes to investing in a system that will really be able to protect all aspects of home security. UControl Link is one such system that is compatible with all current home security systems, and it's so simple that you can install it yourself, and then set up your customized personal settings at their website. In just 20 minutes, the complete security process will be completed. I remember when we lived in a beautiful but old house in Bristol, RI, that had windows on all sides, with locks that were quite outdated. That was probably the only time I felt a bit vulnerable and not completely secure inside my own home. A system such as this would have really helped me then. There are a lot of home security systems out there that provide home security but I really like the way that the company seems to works, as it is a much more modern system compared to most of the regular home security systems out there. The way I see it is that it's no use being not completely at ease in your own home, so it's extremely important to have a set up that can take care of your security needs.

what makes a good community?

Our local area has really been picking up and now we have a variety of shops and stores of all kinds, including several utility companies such as insurance providers, which is a great addition to the host of beauty salons and restaurants. Any good community has to have a good mix of all kinds of stores along with nice playgrounds, parks, walkways and open space for sporting activities for it to be viable as a successful place to live. Local cafes are good at creating a nice atmosphere, but if you have to go out of the area for everything from posting a letter to paying your utility bills, then it's not a successful community. So whether you want to buy sell insurance or just get a quote, it's all very conveniently located in one place. So glad about that!

Would you love a chocolate filled gift basket!

Being a mother is the most exhausting thing. No matter how much one does for a child, it's just not enough. There's always something more that one can do. And the guilt, oh the guilt is so time consuming. So what makes it better? It's in all the little things, the things that one never really pays attention to that make all the difference. And of course, getting a gourmet gift delivery of strawberries covered in chocolate on mothers day makes it all better too! I love to receive gift baskets because there's always an element of surprise in them. I once got a chocolate gift basket which had the most amazing assortment of dark chocolates, cocoa powder, and each item was better than the last. If you need to give a gift to someone in another country or city, then sending a gift basket is the best way to be able to give a gift and be part of a special occasion.

do you notice the little things?

Don't you just love the little things. I've never noticed the little things more than I do now, since my daughter was born. At times, when one is so busy and caught up with the daily stuff, one doesn't even notice the little things of beauty that one sees everyday.

would you care for some shopping?

Shopping is one of those things that totally tires and totally excites me. As fun as it can be to go shopping, I get so tired out by the whole exercise of it that I'm either giving up half way or buying something quickly just to get it over with. I do love to buy things, but the process is what I have a problem with. So, online shopping is the best way to deal with it, the happiest way! So, if I need a new pair of shoes, I could go to a fun place to look for them, like yellowbox which is such a great name, isn't it! I like this kind of shopping.

storming it out

The recent hurricane on the east coast reminded me of college days when tornado's were a common occurrence. As exciting as they were, one could not be casual about them and had to take all the necessary precautions such as going to the tornado shelters, or the basement or at least to an internal room to prevent injuries from flying debris. Although the recent hurricane was eventually downgraded to a tropical storm, there was still plenty of danger from flooding and fallen trees etc.

a good night!

A little light at the end of the day. I love lighting some candles once I finish my work in the kitchen and make us some cups of tea. It's a nice quiet way to end the day. I've been drinking green tea a few times a day and I love having it right after my meals.

in the area

Living in a new area means that there are bits of construction going on somewhere or the other in our area. And then even the areas that are complete, suddenly get dug up, new pumping stations being made, several industrial pumps chugging along, side by side with the new palm trees and bougainvilleas. There are lots of advantages of course, like the series of new stores and restaurants opening almost every day, especially the restaurants, but sometimes the noise and endless work gets on one's nerve at times. I've come to enjoy our evening walks in the area, even though they are punctuated by sounds of construction. After a while I suppose one just doesn't register them.

time for a new pair

Ever since I got an eye infection and had to wear my glasses for a few weeks, I've become fascinated by them, to the point that I've even considered getting a pair of reading glasses, even though I technically don't need them. I wear contact lenses, so at the end of the day when I take them off, I put on my glasses, and I really would like a different pair of glass specifically for reading. I got a new pair recently, but they just keep slipping a bit lopsidedly, which is most irritating. So, maybe I should keep this one as a backup and get a new pair of glasses.

photo: shadows on the wall

Remembering the awesome play of light and shadow in the old apartment. We get really bright light here but it's not the same thing as in the last place, where there was a nice warmth to the sunlight. Whenever I go through my old photo folders, I find shots that make me go back, to remember what it was like.

Sunday browsing!

Sunday is my aimless surfing day lately. Our week has started but for everyone else, it's still the weekend, so no one is posting, and I find it's the best time for me to catch up on blogs, newspapers, emails, photos, and all my other subscriptions for recipes, crafts, and so on. So, when everyone else is weekending away, I'm chilling at home and catching up with everything from where the latest cigar auction online is going on to how to make paper flowers and wreaths. Sunday is the best day to be online for me, since it's also the day I can do most of my work without being distracted, since I know very few people are online.

recharging my batteries

Some days all one can do is to wait for the night when I can fall into bed and hope to sleep an uninterrupted sleep. There's just no way to keep up with a little toddler who has an endless supply of new tricks to try out. How I wish that I too had and endless font of energy, something like rechargeable aaa batteries that seem to go on and on forever. That would be nice, wouldn't it, to actually go and recharge yourself and get through the day. Wishful thinking! Tea was the answer for a while, but now it doesn't give me enough pep and coffee, I try to avoid just because of the caffeine factor. Oh well, time to get some actual rest now.

photo: sour cream and chocolate chunk muffins

As you can see, I've not yet given in to my craving of chocolate after writing the last post. I thought I'd share with you some of the stuff I've made. These were made several months back (as can be seen from the heading on the newspaper) and came out quite nice. They were sour cream and chocolate chunk muffins...it was a cake actually, but I had some leftover batter, so put them in the muffin pan.

I'm craving some cake!

I love to bake something before the weekend starts. Even though it can get really hectic at times, I like the idea of having something to have with our coffee and tea over the weekend. But lately, I've just been feeling so overwhelmed with it all, and having been messing up with my baking, so now I think it's time that I just give in once in a while, and order a cake from the professionals. I'm drooling over the chocolate hazelnut torte at Shari's Berries where you can have all kinds of cakes delivered to your doorstep. I do wonder if they will deliver to my neck of the woods though? The more I look at all the delicious cakes and cookies they have, the more I crave having something chocolatey right now. There are some real cute options, like the white chocolate covered strawberries with baseball markings on them. What an awesome idea!

golfing gadgets

As everyone knows, golfers are all mad people. Ok, I know that's being a little too harsh, but taken in the right spirit, it actually is all about how dedicated golfer are. No matter what the weather, no matter how hot it is, dedicated golfers will go out and play. Golfers love to have a variety of gadgets that help them with their game, little tricks that increases their driving distance, helps them read and hold the line of the putt, and things like having one of these garmin golf gps systems is a no brainer. So, head out and tee off in the heat, and enjoy your game.

keeping up with the regulations

When it comes to being up to date on what's going on in the rest of the world, Dubai seems to be really making the effort on keeping pace with most regulations and requirements of the western world. Something that I was quite surprised by, actually. I wonder if they will follow the US regulation that all public pools must be fitted with pool lift in the next year or so. Of course, it would be an expensive proposition, but for the sake of being seen as a forward thinking state, I think these will probably make their way here too, although not in this short time frame. But, that would still be a good thing in the end, after all it's the end user who will benefit.

photo: simplicity

I love taking photos of things around me, but sometimes, I love just taking simple abstract shots. Sometimes one doesn't need more than that. These were taken behind our old house.

time to kick it up a notch

Ok, so you all know that fitness has been on my mind for the past year, since I had a baby, but I haven't really done much about it at all. For the most part, it all seems like work, and too much of it at that. But something like a dance fitness theme seems like a fun thing to do, right! I came across an article about getting fit by dancing to the best zumba dvd and that really seems like a much more fun way to feel fitter and more peppy. Dancing is a great way to feel good about oneself isn't it? But somewhere along the way one forgets to do simple things like this and relegates them to the past, but I think it's a wonderful way to be a kid.

So, who is creating the latest buzz!

Each time a celebrity goes into any kind of treatment center, it gains a huge following from everyday folk, almost as if they were bookmarking it for a later time, if ever required. Well, at least that's how I read it when I find the buzz and searches of a particular center shoot up after someone enters treatment. Most of the best rehab treatment centers are located either in California or in some more secluded surroundings, making it ideal for time away from the root problem, time away from temptations, time away from escaping reality.

the rise of air evacuations

Did you know that even though air evacuations are expensive they are on the rise, partly due to their coverage by some insurance companies and partly due to the new sense of understanding of the system that has given the average consumer the freedom to opt for a medical air evacuation if required and not be in debt their entire life thereafter. The rise of these services has led to a boom in this part of the medical services and even though the rest of the economy has been making a slow return to stability.

photo: in the morning

A shot from a morning walk in my old neighborhood. As much as I am enjoying living in our new apartment, I do miss certain things about the old house, and having lots of trees around the house is one of them.

craving for a new netbook

Ever since E was born, I've stopped carrying my laptop on my trips, since it's just too much to carry on board the aircraft and I don't want to worry about it if I check it in. So, I've been thinking that a lightweight tablet netbooks is just what I need for when I travel, so I can just slip it into my purse and keep up with mails, photos and everything else online. It's a very tempting thought, don't you think! It's been almost three years since I bought my laptop and even though I still think of it as my new laptop, I always think it's good to replace them every 3-4 years. And, anyway the technology has changed so much since I got my last laptop too.

announcing the right way

It's getting tougher and tougher to keep in touch with friends and family, isn't it? There was a time that the telephone and letters were the primary source of communication, but now everything is online, which is especially handy when you're sending out birth announcements from the comfort of your home sitting in pajamas! I like the idea of planning it all ahead of time and then just sending it to everyone in just one click. These days the variety of these announcements is fantastic and I loved spending time searching for just the right one!

back from vacation

It's good to be back from vacation. As much as I love to go home and travel, it's nice to come home and sleep in one's own bed. After a while, I start missing our routine and the simple things one does together, and it's nice to come back to that. Here's a shot from Kasauli where we spent a few days.

party planning mantra

Party planning is mostly all fun isn't it! It starts out as a lark but bit by bit it can get too much to handle all by oneself, so it's often best to get it done professionally, right from sending out invitations from invitationbox.com to having a caterer take care of the food and drink. If you're planning a party for your family and have to do all the work yourself, then it's not much fun, so I think it's always better to let the experts handle part of the work right from the start.

time for a redo

The list of things that I'm not that familiar with anymore seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. It used to be just an odd thing here and there, and now suddenly, I'm not in on what half the world is up to. It's not just the teenager things but one thing I do know and like are these Nike SB shoes, which I plan on getting so that I don't have to wear my keds for anything except for exercise. I used to have a pair like these back when I was in college and I think it's time to re-do it all. Thanks to my little girl, I feel tired and old, so I need every little thing that will give me some pep.

away on a break

Well, I'm off for a while on a break. It's been a busy few months since our last break, which wasn't exactly a break since it was so hectic with the wedding and all the functions and the preparations before hand. So, this time, I'm hoping to get a little bit of a break, a time to just be, to relish being at home, and let someone else handle the baby for a while, and definitely let someone else handle the cooking for the entire time :-)

fun with printing

One of the real fun things about my home office is having an all-in-one printer, scanner, copier and fax. I love being able to scan something at a moment's notice, especially old photographs so that I can create albums. The thing about epson printers is that they are really versatile and very good for both real office settings as well as for home office and casual workers like me. I just created an album of all our baby photos to send to our family along with little E's photos, to see who she really resembles! And the verdict, a bit of both of us.

it's getting hot out here

Well, we've skipped spring too as well. Winter never came to this part of the world and spring fizzled out and so now we're on to the hot long summer months. Time to cover up the barbeque grill, bring those delicate plants indoors or at least in the shade. While sitting under the outdoor ceiling fans is still alright, the past few days has been almost the hot and humid feel of august. Yuck...it's too soon for all that. I'm still not over missing out on any rain this winter, and can't bear to face the hot weather so soon!

photo: watermelon juice

I love watermelon juice, and I love taking photos of it too!

Here's a shot from some time back, when I had lots of time on my hands of my glass of watermelon juice, before I glugged it down.I love the shadow patterns made by the glass and the beautiful color of the juice. And, yes the little bubbles too!

What are you listening to these days?

Ever since we managed to get the batteries of our speaker's remote, we've been enjoying great music. Having a good collection of music is one of life's pleasures and we really like to set the tone with music, sometimes loud and peppy and at others mellow and soft. Having a good set of speakers such as these altec lansing speakers is essential to create a great sound. There are other factors as well, such as having enough soft furnishings so that the music is absorbed and does not bounce off empty walls and floors. These days, we just can get enough of Andrea Bocelli and Il Divo.

marketing methods

Marketing products and services is not an easy job anymore. At one time, selecting marketing as your career goal was a popular choice, but these days, it's a tough job and only the ones who are really good at it will get the results they want. The tactics have changed and now there is a greater emphasis on using tactics such as guerilla marketing giveaways which have both the impact of newness and winning something for the viewer. While you would assume they would work well only with a certain set of items, this is a popular tactic even with high end brands, where the clientele is at the cutting edge of seeing and hearing new things all the time. Making an impact on such a customer base is not easy, since it must be new, it must be unique and it must create a buzz, and that's exactly what these campaigns do.

Blogger interface will soon have a new look

Have you been reading about all the changes that Blogger will be making? I just read their post on the format that Blogger will soon be taking and it looks very exciting. The new post page looks much nicer and the Dashboard page has a lot of stuff in it, but from the little thumbnail I can't see if one can do directly to comments and stats from the Dashboard, as one can do now. I also like that the total number of posts are written next to the blog name, in the current dashboard, reminds me of how long I've been blogging when I see just how many posts I've written so far. Here's some more information on Blogger Buzz on what's coming.

do you pamper yourself anymore?

When it comes to looking after ourselves, mothers are often the worst offenders. Earlier I never used to understand how things like this happen, but ever since I've become a mother, I completely understand how it happens. One automatically puts everyone and everything ahead of ourselves, whether it is because of social pressure or our upbringing, one just does it and forgets that we have to take care of ourselves too. For one thing, which new mother has time on her hand to indulge in pampering or beauty treatments or for that matter to look for the best remedy for adult acne, since your body is not the one you knew all these years, it's a new person with new aches and pains. By the end of the day, I'm too tired to do anything for myself, except make a cup of tea to relax for a while and maybe surf alongside, which is exactly what I'm doing right now. I shouldn't be ignoring my dark circles either, which means I should be heading to bed.

dim the lights, please

At the end of the day, all I want to do is to relax with my cup of tea, maybe to catch up with the newspaper or just laze in front of the television, and in all this, having the right kind of lighting makes all the difference. It sets the tone for the end of the day, signals the time for me to just be there for myself and prepare for the next day. I've always found that unless you have the right light, and the right wattage as well, you're just not going to get the right effect. I recently reduced the wattage of the lights in the living room and it's created a much nicer and relaxing effect, which I crave by the end of the day. Looking for lamps and light fixtures is much more important than one thinks, so next time I'm browsing and come across Maxim lighting, I'm going to stay a while and get something new.

Repost: Memories of travel

I was looking through my old posts and found this one written way back in April 6th, 2006. We lived in Bombay then, in a lovely third floor apartment surrounded by gulmohar trees and lots of crows and pigeons that always wanted to make their nests on my windowsills.

Here's the original post and here's where it was originally posted.

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.

-Lyn Yutang


So true! Memories of travels always take on a larger than life impression. The heat, the rain, the cold and tiredness are all transient. I remember a day spent at Harvard Square in December 2002, wandering around the bookstores, eating at a new age organic food cafe and drinking the life restoring-ly awesome hot chocolate at Au Bon Pain. It was a mind numbing cold day with knee high snow, but the memory has taken on a more sentimental and 'ah, those were the days' value. Now, I remember this day more for the memory of it than actual enjoyment, as I was too miserably cold to enjoy it when I was there myself.

flags everywhere

Have you noticed that no matter where you go these days, the roads are usually lined with flags of some kind. Sometimes they are advertisements and at others they are announcements, and more than likely they will be feather flags of some kind. Colorful flags are a surefire way to get people's attention, whether they are along a busy highway or leading up to a store for a special event. Retailers nowadays have become quite creative about how to build up interest and create a memorable event these days and that's what makes the difference in a successful event.

oops, I'm getting clumsier

Do you go through times when you seem exceptionally clumsy? I certainly do. Lately, I find that I really need to pay attention to what I'm doing else, I'm setting myself up for a fall. We have really high cupboards in the kitchen in this house and I almost toppled over when I was reaching for something from a higher shelf, so now I need to get myself a nice stable two step stool instead of the simple stool that I already have. It could just be tiredness or sleeplessness, not that I haven't had a few good nights sleep lately, but it all adds up doesn't it and I need a nice long rest as well as time when I do nothing at all. Sounds tempting, doesn't it!

photo: remembering the sunlight

Remembering the magical light in our old apartment. We get lots of sunlight in our new home as well, but it's a different kind of light. Harsher and brighter here as opposed to warm and soothing in the old place. It's the same city, but having trees outside for sun-dappled light, as well as the light being reflected of the villa's walls which were painted a warm taupe kind of color really made a difference. Plus, I also think the glass in the windows contributed to the warmth of the light we got inside our home.

Here are two shots of an anniversary bouquet we received.

v

could you handle a tattoo?

I have to admit, I've never been fond of tattoos of any kind. Well, the temporary ones are ok, I suppose, but nothing permanent for me. I certainly don't want to be looking for something like the best tattoo removal cream which a lot of people seem to be doing once they get themselves inked on the spur of the moment. Tattoo removal is big business and it's always going to be I think, since people are so willing to go get a new tattoo after a night of drinking.

are you one of the lucky ones?

Some people are just plain lucky when it comes to their metabolism, don't you think! They never put on weight no matter what they eat, and never even bother exercising! If you ask them tips on how to lose weight, they'll probably say something like, Oh, I don't know, I never had to, I'm naturally slim! Makes you want to wring their pretty little necks, doesn't it! Well, anyway, there are plenty of more normal people who put on weight with age, food and lifestyle, those who have to work to get the weight off, to sometimes struggle and often give up on eating goodies that they love!

coming back refreshed

Taking some time off from whatever you're doing always gives you a fresh perspective and respect for it, I feel. I took some time off from being online all the time, which is something I do every so often and I always come back refreshed and more excited about blogging or flickring or catching up on my favorite blogs. I even take one or two days off every week....usually on friday, where I don't turn on the computer at all, and it's a great routine.

are you confused about losing weight?

When it comes to losing or gaining weight for body sculpting or body building (or whatever it is called now days), I find that the choices for consumers is altogether too confusing, and with that excess of choices, usually comes the error is selecting the wrong one for yourself. It's better to do an in-depth study and comparison first. Say you're looking for some creatine supplements, so go do a search that will compare different brands, prices, stores and reviews. That's the sensible way to do things, but I'm always surprised at how few people do it. And they're the ones who end up buying bottles and bottles of various pills and then get confused and never use them.

ramping up the exercise routine

Lately, I've seen innumerable advertisements and celebrity endorsements for a new kind of product. Apparently what this new pre-workout vitamin does is make all your effort pay off into actual results, so say you use something like a jack3d supplement you might just be able to ramp up your exercise routine and achieve the kind of results you want. Granted, there is no such thing as a magic wand, especially when it comes to weight loss, but if you need some pep to get you going and hit the gym then this might be the answer.

is it time for an upgrade?

I've been addicted to my laptop forever it seems. I love it's portability and ease of use and ever since wireless connections became the norm, it's made it even more fun to have a laptop. But, now the buzz is more with netbooks it seems, and taking a look at some of the top netbooks, I find that I'm quite tempted to try one out, as something that is even more easier to carry around when I'm out of the house or traveling. All I want is to make things simpler though, and not to complicate them, so it's going to take a bit of sorting around to see whether that will be the result or not before I actually decide to get one.

off for a while

Taking a bit of a break.....just feel like being offline for a while, that's all. I've been active for so long that I think it's time to just be still for a while, so I'll be pottering around doing other things....baking, reading, playing with my baby and much more.

Take care.

working as a chef is cool again

These days working in a hotel seems to be the choice of a large number of new grads in the hospitality industry, when usually, most of them used to branch out into different fields or start their own restaurants etc. Part of the problem was finding good enough chef work that would look good on the resume, be a great learning experience and pay well too. Everyone knows, chefs work ungodly hours and that's part of the deal if you want to become famous enough to have your own brand of restaurants. Opening one's own stand alone restaurant isn't as good as what one gets in a hotel, with its stability and in-built brand name.

how many pics?

Each time I upgrade my camera I find that even though I'm getting a large enough memory card, it always seems to fall short. These days micro sd cards have an amazing capacity and it's especially important to have one with enough capacity if you're going to shoot in RAW format where the size goes up by over ten times, so you barely get enough shots before the card is full. I've been downloading my pics every week and sometimes, that's not soon enough.

matching gifts to the right people

Gift giving can be a confusing time if you're not really sure of the recipient, so it makes sense to do some research before splurging on something like a nikon spotting scope or any other gift that is not really the kind to be tossed aside. When it comes to any kind of electronic item, it really makes sense to be sure that it suits the recipient, in a sense that it shouldn't overwhelm them since that's not going to be fun at all. They're not going to think well of you if you do that!

photo: morning blue

A photo from one of my morning walks from our old house. I loved wandering around the neighborhood and finding little things like this to photograph. And considering I was doing the same 3-4 circuits, I didn't get bored of seeing the same houses and gates.

learning about nutrition all over again

Let's be honest, I've never really bothered too much about nutrition since it all just came naturally. I mean, you eat your veggies, fruits, drink milk and water and make sure you have a good amount of fiber and protein and you're all set, right? Well, since having a baby, I've realized that I know nothing at all and I need to learn about different foods and in which combination they should be eaten all over again. As much as I love to browse decor blogs, what I have been doing lately, is looking up meal plans for 8-12 month olds, vegetables and fruits high in fiber, and even once got sidetracked to a natural diuretics site that listed foods that retain water. I've found some really great sites that I have bookmarked and will be visiting again and again, so it's been a time well spent.

i need some business cards

For the longest time, I've been thinking of getting some business cards printed for myself. I am a freelancer, so don't have anything very official to write on them, just something like my name, a web address and a telephone number or something like that. Some time back, I found a lovely fun business card pdf file that had different illustrations and one could just add in the name and other information that you wanted to add. Unfortunately, I never got around to buy the right paper to print them out on, and on the regular printer paper it's quite pointless. So now, it's time to get some actual ones and find a place that does business cards printing in a creative way and not the boring old designs.

doing our weekly grocery

Doing our weekly grocery this past week, I found that no matter which aisle I walked to, there was a counter offering free stuff. On one aisle, I got to taste some rolls from the in-house bakery, drink a bit of pomegranate juice, test a new hand lotion and even hear a lecture on the best diet pills for women while I got my vitamins. Before we moved to this apartment, I was worried about not being able to shop at my usual grocery store. Well, as it turns out, this one is really good as well, definitely better in some products but much more confusing in its layout and the order one usually does the shopping.

Online event management

Event management is never as easy as it looks. If your work function is taking care of planning events, then you're going to simply love this new software that will make you work so much more organized and simplified. Many companies even offer free accounts so customers could see how it works first before buying the software. I like the idea of planning a sample event to get an idea of how the system works and if it would work at an organization level as well. While most event planning software's are so confusing, customers often don't even bother using them, but there are many which are straight forward and logical.

in the magazines

Every week I like to visit my local bookstore and sit at the cafe with some magazines while I sip a cup of hot chocolate. The usual selection is a mix of fashion and celebrity magazines and so by the end of the outing, I've seen like a million advertisements for acne treatment. Do you spend time looking at all the advertisements at the back of the magazine, they are full of all sorts of cures and treatments for everyone from a teenager to anti-aging creams for the 20-somethings. By the end of the trip, I end up feeling too old :-(

Are you out biking?

This is the best time of the year weather-wise and if you want to make the most of it, then head out for some outdoor activity. Everyone seems to be thinking the same thing, it seems since I've seen a thule bike rack on more than one vehicle in the past few days. Biking is the adventure of the season it seems, everyone wants to be out on their bike, enjoying the sights and sounds that one can only enjoy from a bike. Just wish we had more dedicated bike paths in this area.

photo: twinkling lights

A happy new year to everyone! We're doing good, relaxing a bit over Christmas and New Years and looking forward with new experiences with the little one. Here's a shot that I took on Diwali, but the twinkling lights work well for Christmas and New years as well, don't they!

did you have electronics on your list?

Did you get everything that you wanted this Christmas? I've been reading the reports that some of the trade papers are reporting that one of the popular items on the shopping lists was a Nintendo Wii. Electronic items were by far the most popular items wanted by children and men. Electronics were higher up on the list for women this Christmas as well, with items such as iPads, ebook readers and smart phones on their most wanted list. I didn't have any of these or for that matter any electronic item on my list.

Is it time to let go?

Have you ever gone to a Karaoke bar? Or sung one out in public? I've never wanted to do anything that involves singing in public, but my friends have been ribbing me endlessly with some of the most popular karaoke songs and how much fun it would be to go for one of these nights. Well, I'm not completely convinced about the whole thing at all, but as the new year starts, it's better to have a can-do attitude instead of being a downer and keep saying no all the time. Maybe, it is time to throw off some old hangups and let go for a while.

Doggy tales

My father has always loved dogs and grew up having a pet. My mother on the other hand, didn't care much for dogs, so we didn't have any pets when we grew up. In a surprising twist, my mother had a change of heart and decided to get a pup, a black Labrador retriever. My father was of course thrilled. In the two years that they have had Zorro, they have grown to love him so much that they can't believe they didn't have a dog all these years. There is just something special about a dog's devotion to you. So, since the past two years, they have been hooked onto buying stuff for Zorro, toys, chewables, and a who bunch of other stuff. Sadly, Zorro died of diabetes and now they have another dog, another black Labrador retriever called Marco.

Losing it all

Happy New Year everyone! Are you done with all the parties and brunches and dinners and desserts? And are you happy with how your body handled it all? What, you're saying that you didn't put on any weight? Did you have to rely on something like adapexin to lose the holiday weight so fast? I'm always amazed at how much some people have some to rely on artificial aids to help them lose weight. Yes, I know it's a personal choice, and in many cases, even doctors are okaying using weight loss products, but do make sure that you meet your doctor to see if it's fine for you to take them. Make the new year the year that you start to really take care of yourself and your body.

have you got all your gifts?

Is your shopping done? Are you completely sure you've got something for everyone on your list? What about your grand uncle who is coming for Christmas dinner along with your cousins? Hmmm, forgot about him right? How about some good old cigars with some free cigars as well. Cigars always seem to be a popular gift to receive and this year the trend looks like it will continue. There's just a couple of days left, so get going and finish off your shopping once and for all, right!

photo: gainda phool

I'm back after being away for a month. It's been a really hectic time and I think I need another vacation to recover from the last one. Well, actually the last one wasn't technically a vacation, just a trip home for a wedding. And weddings are too busy a place for any kind of relaxation. But it was important for us to be there and I'm glad we did make the trip. Little E was great, charming everyone she met, even total strangers she saw at the bank while I waited to take out some jewelry to wear at the wedding. Such a joy she is!

Why suffer any more from chronic fatigue?

Did you know that over half the population of the US is fatigued at all times? The more people push themselves to 'do it all', the closer they get to being tired and worn out at all times. With the over use of drugs as anti-depressants, it is worthwhile to check out some natural remedies, that treat chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia within 5-7 days, without causing any side effects. When used for 3-6 months, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia can even be completely cured and reversed.

Temp vs Humidity

Ever since E was born, I've had the baby monitor on in her room, which displays the temperature and humidity. I've never really noticed how humid it can become here till I kept track of the humidity levels and since it's important to keep the humidity in control at a certain level, I think getting a dehumidifier might be a good idea. I find that humidity is what controls the comfort level, too much and you're uncomfortable and sticky and too little, your skin starts to feel dry and tight. So, besides controlling the temperature, it's essential to control the humidity as well.

It's cardi time!

Winter is here and one of the best things about it is to take out the winter clothes and go shopping for a new sweater or two. I'm really fond of cardigan sweaters, since they are just so convenient to put on and take off, and nothing better than cuddling into a soft and slouchy cardi to chase away the winter blues, right. I looked at my closet and I found that I already have several cardigans, but still want to get a new updated look. Our winter here is so short and well, not very cold at all, but the few days or weeks that it gets cold and windy, it's really handy to have a comfy cardi to snuggle into.

photo: sweets and ices

A photo from several months back, when I was at my parents place and had time to explore the bookshelves, I found a cupboard dedicated to recipe and gardening books belonging to my grandmother, and wow, it was such a find. Some of the books were gifts and are inscribed with the name of the giver, names of people I've never heard of, of a time when she was my age or maybe even younger.

Managing performance

A new breed of companies that provide services other companies are gaining in prominence lately. These companies are raising the standard and quality of work that is being done. Firms that are in the area of management and performance evaluation of firms are especially being noticed. Longview Solutions, a business performance management firm and one of the leading providers of strategic finance software for financial institutions has been selected as one of the Top Business Performance Management (BPM) vendors for 2007 by analyst and consulting firm BPM Partners. Longview has also received 4.4 out of 5 in the annual BPM Pulse Survey, for its customer support and price/value ROI of the company's performance management platform.

adjusting to the new

Since moving to the new apt, we're getting used to the new grocery store. At first it just seemed so different than our old one, the one that I had got so accustomed to, that I used to make my shopping list according to the aisles, so I didn't have to go back and forth. Yes, I could and can picture each aisle in my mind. At our new store, it's a little different, actually a lot different. For one, I still haven't figured out if they have a pharmacy inside, I don't think they do, but then I've seen ads for phentermine which is usually found in the pharmacy section. Another difference, is that there are two central aisles instead of one, which makes it really confusing to find stuff and figure out what is where. Still I've found lots of really interesting stuff that wasn't available at the old store, so that's always nice.

to believe or not

Some things you believe right away and others you doubt no matter how much people try to convince you. Where do you sit on things like diet pills that work? With all those experts advice and research that these do work, do you believe them and would you use them or are you still doubting the experts. Often the problem is that the "expert opinion" cannot really be verified, and that's a huge holdup for a lot of people who rely on reviews to make decisions, but what about all the others who verge on the gullible and believe anyone and anything.

the joy of cards

I love sending eCards since it's just so much more convenient and the range of cards is much more exciting than a regular store, especially the animated cards. I love that you can be sure to find something innovative and interesting for all occasions. I especially like the funny cards that one sees now and the animated ones too, since they are the real reason behind the success of eCards. There are many sites that have annual memberships so that you can send unlimited cards, but I think it's better to vary the cards from different sites, since sometimes they can be quite similar. Even though it's fun to send an eCard, there is nothing like getting an actual card in the mail. And I have waiting for me to open....just a few days more though, so I can open it on the right occasion.

finding the right gift

The holiday season is almost here and with it comes the responsibility and the dread of buying gifts, not just buying gifts, but matching the right gift to the right person. Buying the right gift for the right person is an art, when you get it right, it's the simplest thing in the world to buy a present, but otherwise it's a mess. When you're looking for Personal Creations xmas gifts for him then it's best to be specific in your search, instead of buying generic ties for every male on your list. Being more specific according to someone's personal taste is the way to do it right, and to personalize a gift is the best way to create the perfect gift.

vintage or just plain old

Clothing has always been a way of expressing oneself hasn't it, and with T-shirts the concept has been far ahead of all other forms of 'expression'. These days vintage t shirts are all the rage, where ever you go and online sites are buzzing with the latest find. Best of all are new T-shirts that are designed like vintage ones, and these are the ones that sell best in the retail stores as well. Looking for vintage items will get you lots of raggedy ones as well, so watch out for the odd pieces.

photo: simple things

Simple things are the best, aren't they. I love noticing things like this, or sometimes creating them. I find that if I keep things simple in my photos, they come out much stronger and are more memorable. Clutter is draining in photos and in real life as well.

Hosting podcasts

Have you come across this site called Mypodcast.com that offers free podcast hosting? Podcast episodes usually take close to 30 megabytes for approximately a one hour podcast, and if it popular, you could have thousands of downloads per episode. The kind of bandwidth required for these number of downloads could generate close to a terabyte of bandwidth on a monthly basis. It's a better idea to use a hosting service to handle your downloads instead. With advantages such as unlimited bandwidth, unlimited storage, free podcast templates, and a free membership, it's a good idea to use a professional service to host your podcasts.

Share files anywhere

In this age to connecting and communicating with everyone, including people you don't personally know, I came across a site called Box.net which has come up with a software that creates a box widget for you that you can upload and share on your blog, Myspace or elsewhere. Box.net also has a flash player that streams podcasts, music, photos, videos and other types of files. The Box.net Widget comes with unlimited bandwidth and the company will also host up to 1gb of your files for free. I think its a great way to connect and share information. In the age of information and speed, it seems like a great way to get and share information.

the plumber, my new best friend

Settling into a new place is always a bit of joy as well as madness. Our old apt was in an older building and as is the case with older buildings, it had it's quirks and oddities. I thought that moving to a brand new building would solve it all, but no, we've had a good amount of visits from the plumber to fix things that shouldn't be needing fixing so soon. The problems are so silly and small, but they end up irritating me so much that I crave the simplicity of old fashioned pedestal sinks. I'm waiting for the day I see our building's resident plumber in the lift or down in the lobby, and I can tell him that I have no new problems!

is it time for new traditions?

The festival season is here already, can you believe it! Have you done all your shopping? With the way gold prices have been lately, a lot of people are getting really creative about gifts and instead of traditional gold purchases, many are opting for silver instead. Would you consider buying a couple of silver bars or is that just too different? I like the idea of adapting to the times and being open to changes or maybe even starting a new tradition, but a part of me still wants to do things the old fashioned way. Maybe starting off with silver earrings and bracelets will be a better transition!

Creative niches

I came across an interesting concept this morning. A networking and dating site specifically for artists. Now that is getting really segmented and niche, but it makes sense. Why waste time networking on a general site where you really have to hunt to find people with similar interests? It just makes sense to have a specific site like this. The Whole9 was created to give a meeting ground for all creative souls, a place where they could interact with other artists, promote their work, collaborate on projects and much more. The Whole9 differentiates itself by being a hip and upscale boutique style dating site for creative people rather than a generic run of the mill meeting ground. Users are able to create a space to display their art work and connect with other artists, giving them a new place to display their talents.

Last chance emails for event registrations

As we rely more on the web for business and recreational activities, the ways to connect are increasingly becoming more streamlined. Take registration forms for example, they used to be cumbersome and complicated at one time, but as newer systems are being created these processes are becoming not only simpler but also better managed. I find that when I'm interesting in registering for an online event which has a registration process that is too long or asks too many details, I just lose interest.

The main things I look for when registering for events on the Internet, is that the process is quick and that I receive a confirmation letter immediately, giving me all the details of the event, such as the date, time, cost due or cost paid etc. I also like having a 'remind me' option which sends an email reminding you of the event a day earlier.

A new feature on registering for events is being offered by Regonline who specializes in event organization software, that consumers who do not complete the registration process, can still be sent a sort of a 'last chance' email with special promotional deals such as price discounts or specialized customer service help. I'm not so sure I would like to receive one of these though. If I haven't completed the form, it means that I have changed my mind. Although, price is a factor is a lot of these decisions and if a discount was offered, it could tilt the balance. I think overall registration could be increased from 15-25% by sending such a letter out.

settling in

Since moving to our new home, I have been busy looking for all the basics one needs, a mini-mart that does home delivery, a post office, a laundry, a pharmacy and a beauty salon. I was quite intrigued that one of the local salons offers a body acne treatment, which is something I'd never heard off before, but quite impressed that even a small neighborhood place would offer such a specialized or niche service. I've been reading reviews of the different places on the boards, and it looks like I have a great option for hair styling and many great options for nails. If only I had the time to indulge.

different personalities

Have you ever wondered how some men go all out to be their best, while others just tend to let things be. And then there are some men who are the super achievers who are not able to let run the natural and logical course, and end up going to all lengths to be number one. Which one are you? And which do you think are most likely to go in for something like a male enhancement product and not feel even a little bit of embarrassment about it. They treat it just like any other vitamin or exercise and that's about it.

photo: in the light

A photo from a few months back. I remember, it was taken in the afternoon, when I was desperate for some sleep, but of course little E (who was 2 and a half-3 months old then) had other ideas. But, thanks to her waking up, I got so see some lovely afternoon light streaming in between the curtains, as well as noticed the warmth of the light from this lamp.

how soon is too soon?

Ok, so while we are discussing it, lets really get to it. You've tried out some of those anti-aging creams, haven't you? And you're still in your twenties, right? Well, that's the way marketers want you to go, to start using all these products that were originally marketed for older consumers are now targeted at twenty-somethings, who are scared into thinking they are aging at warp speed and are gobbling up everything from anti-aging face washes to wrinkle eye creams. How early do you have to really start with these products? I would have thought that the later you can go without them the better you are, emotionally at least, but it's the opposite based on market research. I think very soon, you'll have acne treatment and anti-aging treatments combined in one!

What all do you insure?

Besides health and car insurance do you have any other insurance currently? These two are the most common kinds of insurance in the US, although there are lots of additional insurance segment available. Since we travel quite often, we usually get travel insurance each time we travel for the duration of our trips, which is a great way to ensure that you don't have to worry about anything that goes wrong while you're traveling. Car insurance depends on your driving record, age, type of vehicle being insured and your location. Insurance rates vary from state to state so if you live in exclusive are of Connecticut you will likely be paying higher rates for car insurance than in other areas of the state. In the same way, consumers in Maryland, need to find automobile insurance agents based on where they live which will determine their insurance rates. I had a basic Ford Escort in college with quite nominal insurance, but as soon as I got a new car I had to suddenly pay a much larger amount.

A long busy day

Today has been a super hectic day. I did everything from our weekly groceries, to shopping for socks, leggings, caps, winter dresses etc for Elisha for our upcoming trip back home, which took me from one end of Ibn Batuta mall to the other, looking for our so-hard-to-find SoundDock speaker battery which has been on our list for the past two months and refuses to be available, and of course, a little time at Starbucks in Borders looking through some magazines while sipping a hot chocolate. On the home front, I did the laundry, found that box of green tea that I brought back from Kerala, scanned some documents for my hubby, which ended up taking 40 minutes since some of the pages kept getting chopped off on the sides and I had to keep redoing them. Whew, I feel like I've got a lot done today, with my cross country mall trek, that I don't need to secretly start looking for a fat burner or any such thing to lose any weight, right!

have you seen my led lamp?

Moving to a new house makes it really fun to search for decor ideas on the internet. It's when all the things I want to do to get a new look, well not all, but many at least, can be put into practice, and all that surfing decor sites comes in handy. The problem happens when I forget to bookmark a site and then just cannot find what I was looking for. I found a really great idea for a LED lamp and now I have no idea how I found it and where to find it again. I know all about led flashlights and how cool they are in consuming less energy and being more dependable, but I just wish I could find the page for the cool led lamp which would be perfect for my entry hallway. It wasn't the usual led desk lamp variety, but something quite creative and even magical. I hope I find the page soon....will share it here with you when I do.

What I should have known about credit cards 10 years ago

I got my first credit card all too easily, when I was a junior in college. I never even applied for one, but there were lots of credit card offers and I was given a pre-approved application and got the card within a few days itself. While I knew I had to be careful about charging money on the card, it was just so easy to get pulled into buying things on sale and think about paying later on. Credit cards are something that we have to have but have to be cautious about. Credit cards are essential in today's world; you can't even rent a car without a credit card, so the only way to handle credit cards smartly is to have an agenda about them, to pay charged amounts as soon as possible, before even the interest is charged. I wish I had been able to read basic credit guidelines such as these before I got into the credit card cycle. It's also a good idea to understand what balance transfers are all about, so you can take advantage of better interest rates elsewhere.

how tech friendly is your corner shop?

The changes one sees is the small retail stores these days is quite interesting. Some time back most of the corner stores never bothered with any technological support but now all of them seem to have a host of retail tech support such as inventory control, audit support or a receipt printer and so on. With the investments that retailers have made into this part of their business, the results are definitely going to show an improvement once the cost of the software has been taken care of.

Do you go to buy.com?

It's been a week since we moved into our new home and we've made really good progress on the unpacking and organizing, but once the initial rush wears off, I'm finding it hard to get excited about finishing off the work. For one thing, our new home is radically different from our old one, so it looks like we will need to change some of our furniture. Our desk is just wrong for this space and it needs to go, so I've been looking for deals online. I found a good deal on a Canon printer at buy.com, which will take up much less space than our current one and will look better in our more modern surroundings. I was quite impressed with the offerings at buy.com, especially at the variety of offerings on their weekly deals page, where one can really snap up some good stuff. It really doesn't seem like 3 years ago that I was setting up our old home and now it's time to do it again. How the time as gone by so fast it's hard to really understand at times. I like to make changes to our home and doing it in a new space is even more exciting.