I don’t know if you all notice – but I have been exercising everyday – step aerobics! Yes!  I needed something low impact because I haven’t exercised for as few months now.  So I chose step aerobics – and it seems to be working out for me – so a few girlfriends and me – got together in one of our basement – we put up a video on step aerobic and started exercising with the video.  We each brought our  ipods since we were quite familiar with the steps and didn’t like the music on the exercise tape on our second day.   And it’s amazing how small ipods are these days – a friend has an ipod shuffle – which was tiny tiny !  and another used her ipod touch for the music – pretty amazing.  As for me – i have my ipod nano – the 8gb one – it was a birthday present from the spouse and it sure came in handy.  Anyhow – it had been about a month and a half since I started on step aerobics and I must say – that with my music/ipod – i really didn’t need the company – so I do it on my own when my girlfriends are not available.

People asked me all the time what to give to the wife on an anniversary and I would tell them to check out anniversary gifts by year because you not only get an idea what to give – you can buy your gift from the same site.  The other most common question I get asked is what is your favorite anniversary gift?  Mine?  I gotta say the above toilet paper – first thing in the morning – when you use the bathroom and the toilet paper is all over the toilet – now tell me that doesn’t make you feel giddy, silly and funny all at once.   And this would go well with all the other 2nd anniversary gifts for those celebrating their second anniversary.

Gifts need not be expensive but they must be thoughtful – and you can’t just buy a random gift right?  Some men say that women are difficult to please – but to me – it’s understanding your woman and what she needs.  If you are both saving for a holiday or to buy a house – you definitely shouldn’t splurge on a diamond ring right?  A meaningful gift – a price of a stalk of rose – would suffice (for me anyways).   And for a spouse who needs nothing  – a funny t-shirt or even a teddy bear  would be nice – plus if it is shipped to the office where she works – that would be so sweet – what do you think?  I hope my suggestion/s helped – but you can always let me know – if you have a better gift to give to the special someone.

Branded goods are not cheap and a good friend had shown me what she did for her old branded handbags and shoes back home.  It’s amazing that they have a shop that professionally clean your branded goods – from shoes to handbags and even clothes and if a color of your shoes and handbags are getting too old to clean  – you can opt to dye it.   I used to just throw my old stuff out – now I don’t have to anymore – i’ll just bring them home with me to Asia – the next time I’m home.  Pretty awesome right?

Have you shopped with your spouse lately?  if you have – I’ve sure unless your man is extra special – they are all the same when it comes to shopping.  So after years of being together – I’ve finally come to this conclusion – that there is an easier way to shop with the man.  One thing you have to know is that the men – are not interested in giving you an opinion on your dress nor shoes or your handbags.  When it comes to grocery shopping – they don’t really care what you buy as long as there is food on the table or the fridge when they are hungry.  Now, now!  don’t tell me you don’t agree with me – if you are protesting right now – then you must be crazy ! hahhaha!

The difference between us women and men – they love their tools, their games or even cad drawing – big screen tvs and computers – other than that – you can forget about it.   And i have a simple solution for all the women out there – when you go shopping with your spouse – you let him go get his stuff and you go get yours – then you get your things done and be happy and he won’t be bored to death.  And you all can meet back in front of the mall or the car – and make sure you don’t leave the kids with the spouse – because if you do – when you meet up – he would be so grouchy – you don’t know if you should be mad with him – or feel bad for him.

Every beautiful woman wants a dream bathroom – with awesome looking faucets and lots of space and mirrors but a jacuzzi bathtub would be a plus – if not a bath tub deep enough to immerse your entire body without having to slip yourself deeper than you need to go get entirely soak.  My dream bathroom is only for myself – but if I can’t have it for myself – then I would need two sinks – two toilet bowls and a standing shower – not the ones in your bath-tub.  My dream bathroom needs to have flattering lightning and definitely a place to do my nails – i must have good soft music.  This bathroom – is at a hotel in Asia – and it’s not an ordinary hotel – and as you can see – they used the best furnishing and decor.  My home bathroom is smaller – but the next house I buy – I’m going to have my own bathroom in my own bedroom.  What about you ?

Preparing for a vacation takes planning – a few weeks in advance.  You not only have to pack for yourself but for the entire family especially the kids!  the kids stuff takes up so much space – one can easily forget to pack your own stuff – like your shampoo or toner you may need for the next few days.  We look at several different holiday packages like Branson vacation package , Disney World and Sea World – all takes at least a good 5 days – so I have to pack for a 5 days worth for everyone.

Where do one begin? and surely you wanna look your best during your vacation – so that your vacation pictures can be shown around proudly to your family and friends right?   So moms – how do one pack all your daily regimen into a suitcase?  Are you going on a plane ?  or with a car?  Normally, or for the longest time – i pack the kids stuff first – but this trip – i’m packing first my stuff – and then kids – the spouse – you let him pack his own.  Plan ahead – mix and match your clothing – but never forget all your perfumes – lotions and sunscreen – because those are the things you really need.  I’m packing up soon – and will let you all know how i make out.

Shopping for a client/s is pretty easy – why?  I go for the designer ties – you can never go wrong with a male client or even a male relative.  Reason why i only buy designer ties is because of the material used – you will know that the quality is different from the store brand ones.  I prefer silk ties and pure silk must be used and these ones are handmade too.  Love the variety of colors to choose from and one can order them online – don’t even have to waste gas or going into a crowded mall.   And you can also tell the client/s or the relative that they are handmade – so they will feel really special.  Prices are reasonable too – at about $19.90 – $29.90.

This was my dream car for a long, long time – but i guess as you grow older – you kinda stay away from anything pink – else people might think you wanna hang on to your youth too much – hahah!!  But yes ! i’m looking for a used car to ferry my kids to school.  I’m not looking for an expensive car -  but the car definitely has to be in good working condition and small – because gas here is very expensive.  I figured it shouldn’t cost too much to insure a used car – unlike a new car – I think you need to insure for collision too.   So if i buy a used car at a reasonable price and insure it for a few hundred dollars a year that would be ideal – and i don’t have to worry about waiting for the spouse to ferry us around.  Looking online on carinsurancelist.com to get a quote was what was recommended by another friend – that way I can kinda get a price range – and then speak with someone about it. So yes! wish me luck – as soon as I get my car insurance – i’m getting a car – albeit a used one.

The best thing I like about Kose Japan  is they have all your records even if you are not buying from the same store.  So lets say – you bought something a month ago – from a store and then go to another store – and wonder if you bought an item recently – or tried it before – they can just put in your info on the computer and they have everything you ever bought from them or the facial appointments you have had.   Pretty cool eh?  I think they probably use some kind of document management software to track all info and distribute it on all their Kose counter’s computer.

Anyhow – the girlfriend from Japan sent these over and told me that in the record in Kose Japan – the things that she had bought for me thus far shows that I’ve used more than 50 bottles of Sekkesei and the counter girl had asked her if i wanted to try something else.  The problem is – i haven’t had a chance to try anything new – because over here – where i lived – we don’t have a Kose Counter or a beauty shop – quite the bummer right.  So for now – I just have to continue using the Sekkesei lotion – i love masking my face with it.