I Am Back With Almost Fully Recovered Vision

First, sorry for MIA (Missing In Action) from my blog for more than a week. The reason for my MIA is because of my recurred red eyes condition. After further checked by the eye specialist, the condition was actually worst than I thought, a corneal abrasion which could be caused by an old eye injury.

After about a week of living with uni-eye (the other eye was being patched most of the time), I managed to regained about 75% of the vision for the next few days and thus leaving aside my blogging ritual during this period. Now, here I am back with the business (blogging) and with almost fully recovered vision (still not 100% recovered though).

Many a time, we took thing for granted and only appreciate its importance when we really lost it. This is one of the such time for me, even though my lost is only temporary but I can really felt the inconveniences and how it has affected my daily routine while I was in uni-eye stage. 

Following is a quote inspired by this incident of mine:

"To avoid misjudging, see it with both eyes and sense it with heart!" 

Here are some photos during my uni-eye stage:

Cheers!

SPECIAL: Interior Design vs Social Media

As a follow-up to my earlier post related to the traits of interior designers, in this post, I am trying to explore further on the topic of interior design, especially during this social media and mobile age. Nowadays, all businesses (including interior design houses) are embracing social media like blog, facebook, twitter, LinkedIn etc... to spread further their branding/PR in the online space. In fact, it will soon becoming a necessity and not an option.

For interior design industry, tapping on the online channel, especially via social media marketing is such an easy decision to make as it bears many fruits that offline marketing cannot possibly matched, for example:

a. Wider market reach - online marketing is borderless and timeless

b. More effective/efficient customer engagement

c. Online marketing is relatively cheaper than the offline marketing and many more   

Just take for an example, mcmhouse.com, leading supplier of solid timber dinning tables uses graphical blog as part of their social media strategy which I thought is a great idea as their services/products are visually rich  in nature. By the way, mcmhouse.com has the largest collection of dining tables in Sydney and it has been in the business for over 20 years.

In short, in whatever business you are in, do take social media seriously as part of your marketing/PR strategy as nowadays social influence is a key factor in closing a deal. 

Cheers!

SPECIAL : Professional Moving Services

Throughout our adult living years, most of us will be going through a series of moving, be it residential or commercial, short distance or long distance and some even international. Most of the time, we would rather engage professional mover than doing the move ourselves.

Recently, I've chanced upon a site called NJ Movers that provide all type of moving related services and the reason I am sharing it here is because of their comprehensiveness of related services and their professional looking website. 

To give you an idea what I meant by comprehensiveness of services, following are the summary of services that they are providing:

1. Residential Moves

2. Corporate Moves

3. Long Distance Moves

4. International Moves

5. Storage Facility

6. Packing And Supplies

7. Specialty Packing

For hassle-free and peace of mind, do consider getting a professional moving service.  

Cheers!

Thank You And Good Bye Mr Stephen R Covey

Mr Stephen R Covey, author of the top-selling motivational book "The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People" (1989), passed away on Monday (16th Jul 2012) at a hospital in Idaho. The cause was complications of a bicycle accident three months back, his family said. He was 79.

Mr Covey's books and talks have inspired/motivated millions of people around the world to better themselves in both their personal and business journey (and I am one of them). His books sold more than 25 million copies worldwide and became the first audiobook to sell more than 1 million copies. Definitely one of the top influential motivational guru, his passing will sure to be missed by many. 

R.I.P Mr Covey and thanks for all the greatness shared.  

Following are the top 10 powerful books authored by Mr Covey (click on the links for more details):

1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

2. The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything

3. The Leader in Me: How Schools and Parents Around the World Are Inspiring Greatness, One Child at a Time

4. The 3rd Alternative: Solving Life's Most Difficult Problems

5. The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness

6. Principle-Centered Leadership

7. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families

8. The 7 Habits for Managers: Managing Yourself, Leading Others, Unleashing Potential

9. Everyday Greatness: Inspiration for a Meaningful Life

10. Daily Reflections for Highly Effective People: Living the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Every Day

Cheers!

SPECIAL : Traits For Interior Designers

I have a few friends (mainly guys, both from online and offline) who are in the interior design industry, through my many conversation with them, I deduced that majority of them are perfectionist and very detailed in nature. That explains why many a time we went WOW whenever we saw some brilliant interior design on the magazine or real life.

I guess these are the important and necessary traits for a professional interior designer. Coupled with their creativity and hard work, many masterpieces were being created. Check out Kitchen Cabinets NYC and you will know what I meant.

So, what kind of traits are you possessing? Do you agree with my interpretation that interior designer are detailed and a perfectionist in nature?

Cheers! 

Start Something That Matters

A few days ago, went to the a bookstore warehouse sales (I like to read physical book more than the online book), one book that particularly caught my eyes is called "Start Something That Matters" and I am happy that I grabbed it then. 

I am still half way through the book now but find it very interesting and meaningful. It is a book by Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS (one of the fastest growing shoe companies in the world) about his dream and how he fulfilled his dream of giving by mixing his entrepreneurship experience and charity spirit. TOMS was started with an idea of giving by selling (shoes in this case for the underprivileged kids in Argentina). The powerful message is One For One Movement i.e. TOMS' business model looks like this: "with every pair of shoe you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shows to a child in need".  

It is definitely one of the top inspirational books that I've read this year. It encourages everyone to make a difference in other people's lives by starting something that matters and I liked the powerful catchphrase that read "You don't have to be rich to give back!".

For more details of the book, click on Start Something That Matters

By the way, TOMS is actually the abbreviation of Tomorrow's Shoes! Thus, it's not only a name, but a mission, a vision and a dream of a wonderful man.  

Cheers!

SPECIAL: One Thing That You Can't Do With Your Smartphone

As per my earlier post, smartphone in an integral gadget that we can't live without. There are many functions and apps that can help us to get thing done faster and fulfilling our on-the-go, internet dependent lifestyle. 

Having said that, there are still many things that the smartphone can't do for us.  On this aspect, first thing that comes to my mind is the function of weighing. In short, we still need to rely on the physical weighing machines/scales to do the job. That's also the reason why the online store site like Satorius Scales is still booming with businesses.

What about you? What comes to your mind for the function(s) that the smartphone still can't do the job for us?

Cheers! 

Smartphone Usage Statistics in Singapore

Nowadays, wherever you go, indoor or outdoor, you will noticed that it is hard to get an eye contact with your friends or people around you, reason being that most of the time, their eyes are looking downwards or any direction that their smartphone is. I guess this is one of the side effect of the technology advancement that made people less social-friendly offline. I must admit that I am guilty of that too! 

Of course, smartphone is already an integral equipment/gadget nowadays, I am sure you will feel uneasy or lost whenever you forget to bring your smartphone with you! Ever wonder how most people make use of their smartphone? If you are from Singapore, you are probably part of the statistic here. Norton has recently released a survey on Singaporean's mobile phone usage habits and following are the top of the list:

Internet Access         69%

Social Networking    57%

Reading The News    55%

Online Messaging     39%

Mobile Banking        27%

Navigation                25%

Online Shopping      19%

Did you notice that phone call is nowhere to be seen in the list? What does it means? It means nowadays people are communicating through Social Networking site like Facebook, Google+ or through FREE online Messaging apps. 

What surprises me though is that gaming is not in the list too. I am not a hardcore gamer myself (except occasionally playing some time-waster game like "Draw Something With Friends" etc...) but I thought it (mobile gaming) should be at least at the top 5 position. For me, except "Navigation" (as I do not drive), I use my precious iPhone for all the above mentioned activities and my personal  top 5 ranking is as per following:

1. Social Networking
2. Reading The News
3. Internet Access
4. Online Messaging
5. Navigation

What's your ranking?

Cheers!

SPECIAL : Safety First! Buckled Up!

Regardless of which country you are at, when you are driving on the road, you are automatically assumed the responsibility of ensuring safety for yourself as well as others (both inside your car as well as those outside). I know driving can be quite a taxing experience especially when you are in a less than ideal road or traffic condition. Having said that, you should not let your gut down so as to avoid any unrecoverable mistake (accident).

Having said that, accident could still happen in an unforeseen circumstances, that's where the safety belt comes in to minimise the potential damage/impact and it could make a difference between life and death. Of course, if there is infant/kid in your car, you need to install the infant car seat for more appropriate protection of the infant (in most countries, installation of car seat for infant/kid is compulsory). For more details of different types of infant car seats, check out Max Cosi Car Seat.

For the sake of all road users (including yourself), let's all play by the rules of :

Safety First, Buckled Up!

Cheers!     

5 Inspirational Quotes For Sharing

TGIF (Thank Goodness It's Friday), it's time to let your hair down and have fun (or have a good rest) over the weekend. Life is short, let's be happy and not worry!

It has been a while since the last sharing of my original inspirational quotes, my apology but my muse is still not coming back yet. Thus, to keep the momentum of inspirational and positive thoughts going, I am sharing herewith 5 inspirational quotes that I like and hope that you like them too (all of them are extracted from the web).

Cheers!

SPECIAL : A house called home!

A house is a house unless you make it a home. If you are living around Brooklyn, your options of making a home is aplenty. Brooklyn is vibrant and diverse. There are many types of Brooklyn properties on the market today, ranging from charming brownstone to high rise apartment building.

Of course, investing in properties is one of the most expensive and longer term capital investment, you need to do a lot of homework. There are many resources available online and offline for the properties in Brooklyn, one of reputable resources worth checking out is Brooklyn Houses For Sales.

Cheers!

Optimist Vs Pessimist

People who know me personally would know that I am an optimist by nature, at times, I  might be deemed as too optimistic from a third party view (but it doesn't bother me ;-)). With pure optimism, it doesn't make me any more successful than others but it does provide me with a lighter head (lesser burden; lesser worries).

It could be due to my upbringing, of which I was brought-up in a small village (or "kampung" as we called it here) and the standard of living that I've been accustomed to is not as high as the other cosmopolitans. Or it could be just ME. In any case, I still treasure this great properties of mine and would want to keep it till the end.

Of course, it doesn't means that I do not have my low or unhappy moments, just that I am treating each and every such experience as plain moments with conflicting objective/understanding or temporary missed opportunities/fortune. So, I will not dwell over them as every single old moment will pass and new moment will come. 

In any case, I am living my life with the following 5 key principles:

1. I can't control the action by others, but I can always control my reaction.

2. There are always 2-sides (at times even more sides) of the story. Thus, I will always put myself in the other person's shoe first before reacting.

3. Most of the time, there is no right or wrong, just different perspective/experience.

4. Life is short, so I should focus on making myself (and people around me) happy and not worry

5. Listen before speak; Think before Act!

Just to bring across the point clearer, take a look on the following view (between Optimist vs Pessimist) on a same situation and you will know the difference!

Pessimist: why me? What can I do next?
Optimist: since it's me, I will do whatever I can next!

So are you an optimist or pessimist and what is/are your life's principles?

Cheers!

SPECIAL : Sleep Well ; Bugs Free

To have a good night sleep is very important as it will determine your following day's mood and energy level. There are two key elements that will affect your sleep pattern i.e. the soft element (your Mind and emotion etc.) and hard element (the environment and noise level etc.).

Today, I am going to share a specific situation of the hard element which will affect your sleeping quality as well as your health in general. It is the bed bugs! I am pretty sure many of us ever faced with this irritating common enemy of sleep before and the worst part is that they just seems to be undefeatable and keep coming back. 

There are many ways to fight against bed bugs but I find that the following two articles of the bed bugs symptoms and treatments quite informative (warning: some of the photos inside the articles might make you feel uncomfortable):

bed bug bites pictures

bed bug rash

So, what is your personal experience of fighting against the bed bugs?

Cheers!        

10 Superfoods For Healthier and Happier You

When we talk about happiness, we cannot leave out healthiness. Without good health, it is harder to obtain a true happiness. When talk about health, it is better to focus on prevention rather than cure. Thus, appropriate/regular exercises and healthier/balanced food in-take is very important for maintaining a good health.

Today, I am going to share 10 superfoods which are powerhouses of vitamins, antioxidants and curative properties. The best part is they are all easily obtainable (source: READ magazine).

1. Almonds:

• Great source of vitamins B and E which ae beneficial to the immune system. Powerful antioxidants;
• Good sources of magnesium;
• Produce energy, build and maintain muscle tissue;
• Regulate blood sugar level;
• Sate hunger effectively and thus reducing sugar craving.

2. Eggs:

• Contain a balance of essential amino acids
• Full of protein

3. Soy:

• Rich in antioxidants
• Rich in fibre
• Rich in protein

4. Apples:

• Reduces damaging cholesterol
• Help keep full for longer
• Able to fight certain cancers

5. Berries:

• Loaded with fibre
• High in antioxidants

6. Leafy greens:

• Low calorie count that can reduce your waistline
• High in magnesium, fibre and calcium, thus aiding muscle contraction
• The darker the green, the better

7. Yogurt:

• Aids a better digestive system
• The probiotic bacteria reduces the incidence of gas, bloating and constipation
• High in minerals, calcium and help neutralise acidity

8. Salmon:

• Rich in Omega-3 fatty acid that increases the metabolism and promote fat burning
• Protect the heart and regulate adrenaline

9. Avocados:

• Contains a large number of cholesterol-burning enzymes
• The potassium and monosaturated fat lowers blood pressure
• The potassium helps satisfy sweet cravings

10. Green Tea:

• Aids digestion better and helps burn fat

Out of the above 10 superfoods, which ones are you taking regularly? Or if you know of any other superfoods, do share it here too.

Cheers!  

SPECIAL : Unique online store - Supreme Kitchen And Bath Supplies

This is my second blog about the online store called Supreme Kitchen and Bath Supplies which provides quality kitchen and bath supplies. The reason why I post again on this site is because of their vast selection and variety of all kitchen and bath stuffs. Whatever you can name it, they have it.

A simple wild card search on the site generated close to 30,000 items on display (29,975 to be exact). Need proof? Just follow this link: Kitchen and Bath Supplies to see it for yourself. If you have difficulty in finding your desired item by searching through the massive list, fret not, you can also filter the items by the broad categories (like Kitchen accessories, Bathroom Accessories, Bathtub etc) listed on the left hand panel of the site.

So, if you are looking for kitchen or bath supplies, looks no further, give this site a try!

Cheers!

SPECIAL : Care For The Man's Best Friend

Today, I am going to touch on the topic related to the man's best friend. Just like human beings, all pets (including the man's best friend) going through the natural progression of born, old, sickness and death. thus, it is important for all pet owners to look out for signs or syndrome when their beloved pet is in sickness/pain.

My wife used to have a Maltese and we called him babie (because of his size). He is very active and  occasionally fall victim of the impact injuries which causes him in pain. We can tell that he is in insurmountable pain through his watery eyes. We didn't take it lightly. 

Thus, we did quite an extensive research online to look for the medical condition/treatment for dogs. Thus far, there are two articles which we find them very informative especially on the condition, causes  and treatment of dogs in pain or with arthritis: dog arthritis aspirin and arthritis in dogs.

Most of the pets put smile on their owner's face with their unconditional love (just imagine, when you reach home, still standing on the front door, they are there waiting for you with their wagging tail!), it is important that we care for them as well. 

Cheers!     

5 Fastest Stuff You Might Not Know

When we talk about speed, we will associate it with action and adrenaline rush, that's the reason why the movie franchise like "Fast And Furious" and "Speed"  are such an success and well received in the box office. Speed do make a great difference in real life too. With speed, we can achieve more with less time and thus increase the efficiency/productivity of our lives.

Today, I am going to share 5 fastest stuffs that you might not know!

1. Fastest Internet Connection

You might be surprised to learnt that the fastest internet connection is actually from South Korea and the recorded speed is at 13.8 Mbps (Megabytes Per Second), as reported by US internet monitoring firm, Akamai. It is more than twice that of America's.

2. Fastest Man

I believed many of you would know who is he, he is non other than the reigning Olympic Champion Usain Bolt (a Jamaican). He broke the world record by completing 100 m in just 9.58 seconds, making his average speed 38.17 hmph.

3. Fastest Train

The fastest train belongs to the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, averaging 300 kmph. By the way, the high-speed rail network costs US $300 billion to build and cut down the travelling time by more than half (from 10 hours to 4 hours 48 minutes)

4. Fastest Computer

Speed is everything when comes to the eWorld. The fastest computer goes to The K Computer (named for the Japanese word "kei", meaning 10 quadrillion), a super computer produced by Japanse IT giant Fujitsu. It implies that the machine can perform a whopping 10 quarillion scientific calculation per second. For easier appreciation, you need about 88,000 CPUs to generate such speed.

5. Fastest Lift

Taipei 101 (Taiwan) is the second tallest building in the world (after Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the one Tom Cruise climbed in his MI4 movie) but it has the fastest lift in the world. The lift can "transport" you to the 100th floor in 40 seconds. 

I have personally took the lift in May this year and I can attest to that monster speed! It is really LIGHTNING FAST and the best part is you can hardly feel any movement. By the time the lift lady welcome you and complete his announcement, you are already at the top of the building.

  

Cheers! 

SPECIAL - The Unique Online Specialty Store

Nowadays, any bricks and mortar shop can goes online and create a brand new channel of business. Recenly, I've chanced upon an online store that selling the most specialised stuff that I've ever seen. It is the provider of Designer Scrubs  and it specialises on the nursing scrubs, lab coats and accessories like Lanyard, Apron and many others.. 

If you are in the nursing or lab industries, you might find this online store comes in handy as there are a whole range of scrubs, uniforms/coats and accessories etc... that you can choose from anytime, anywhere you want.

Cheers!