If I had green fingers….

Posted on February 23, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

I would design a garden in my home as a landscape architect with the intention of showcasing my masterpiece to my friends and family and then make a business out of it as a landscape designer. I'd learn up all my plants and blend them together bearing in.......click to learn what next.

Booking a trip to the USA

Posted on February 20, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

Man.....this trip to the US is such a bitch to plan! The travel agent came back today with the air fares alone and it was RM26,000 (~USD9,000) - what?!! Ouch!! And we won't even talk about flight time. With a toddler at that. *sigh* On one hand, I'm.......click to learn what next.

When I was in Poland….

Posted on February 11, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

I wore these! Yes, boots from Emu Australia. It was -5 degrees Celsius so no stiletto boots for me. I needed practical, comfortable and most importantly extra warm boots. I wore six layers of clothing - can you believe it? The clothes were heavier than me! I looked.......click to learn what next.

My first stair lift

Posted on February 9, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

My first real architectural project was the Trentham Nursing Home in England more than ten years ago and it was then when I had first heard of a stair lift. Stair lift? What the hell is that? And since we had to have one installed, there I was.......click to learn what next.

Space saving water heaters

Posted on February 9, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

You sure don't need an architect to tell you that this tankless water heater is an absolute must for people with not a lot of space at home. Even for people with large space, why waste it when you could do something more useful with the space you.......click to learn what next.

Running a business of my own

Posted on February 9, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

I've been thinking lately of what kind of business I'd like to have in the future, design (although the Hubs strongly discourages this) or something else (not knowing what something else is). Whatever the case, I've always maintained that when I do have my own baby one day,.......click to learn what next.

Building a great retirement village – vague definitions confuse me

Posted on February 9, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

My mother has always had this brilliant idea for me to build a retirement village in Malaysia in the hope that she could live in it one day. Not the old folks homes that are currently available right now. A REAL retirement village. One which you not only.......click to learn what next.

Better safe than sorry? Do you have insurance?

Posted on February 7, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

Last year, we looked at some term life insurance quotes for Tee but decided to wait a bit before making that decision. I think it's definitely worth having accident and emergency insurance and hospitalisation cover since you never know when misfortune happens. But to have term life insurance.......click to learn what next.

Getting cash advance to travel

Posted on February 7, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

Organising a holiday field trip to the United States is no fun. Thank goodness for friends living abroad or I'd have considered cancelling the trip altogether. For the moment, we have worked out that we will be needing about USD3500-4000 for Florida and another USD2000 for New York........click to learn what next.

Serving tea to Daddy

Posted on February 6, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

One day, a 3 year old little girl was left with the care of Daddy whilst Mommy went out for a well-deserved break with her friends. Little girl had just recieved a tea party set for her birthday and it was her current favourite toy. Daddy was in.......click to learn what next.

Will you help me increase my blog traffic?

Posted on February 4, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

I was reading a friend's blog the other day and read about Buzzfuse so being the natural busy body that I am, I had to get over to check it out. :-) And of course, since I needed to increase my blog traffic in order to make more.......click to learn what next.

Bank accounts

Posted on February 2, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

Can you believe that I've never had a checking account in Malaysia? The last time I had one was when I was in England because all students had one but here, you need someone to recommend you and that's such a hassle so I never bothered. I just.......click to learn what next.

Looking for baby stores in New York

Posted on February 1, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

When and if we go to New York, the first thing I'd be on the lookout for is some baby stores to see what baby stuff I can purchase that I cannot get here in Kuala Lumpur. Not that I have a baby yet, but you know, it's.......click to learn what next.

Valentine’s Day coming so soon?!

Posted on January 19, 2008February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

Shit! Where has time gone? I've been so busy that I haven't even settled into a New Year routine yet! And it's soon Chinese New Year and Valentine already!!! Oh dear.....it means time to go shopping again at CouponChief.com. As you know, on Chinese New Year, we would.......click to learn what next.

How to make extra cash during the festive season

Posted on December 1, 2007February 5, 2015 by Mamapumpkin

Many yonks ago, my mother had a florist and during Raya and Chinese New Year, orders were in abundance so much that the entire family clan had to be involved in delivering fruit baskets, flowers, gifts and hampers to lucky people all over the Klang Valley. During this.......click to learn what next.

Getting out of credit card debt

Posted on October 18, 2007April 30, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

I hope this will help those of you with large credit card bills because we had a credit card bill of more than 50k once upon a time and managed to get out of it. Firstly, STOP using your credit cards. Throw them away. Cut them up. Force.......click to learn what next.

My Blog Stats

Posted on October 6, 2007January 14, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

When I first started this blog, it was to vent. It was my therapy to keep me sane from the drudgeries of being a Stay-At-Home-Mom. After more than two whole years of caring independently for little Tee, my brain needed to do something. So many options were available........click to learn what next.

I have since removed my gold arms……

Posted on October 5, 2007October 5, 2007 by Mamapumpkin

Yes, I knew it wasn't going to last. Who me? Jewellery? It's just not me.....plus as a full-time hands-on Mother, I'd only be asking to scratch myself and baby all over with sharp objects. Sadists. Think Angelina Jolie in that movie.....what' it called? Not Single White Female but.....?.......click to learn what next.

Hey, hey!! Hear all!! Wanna make USD25???

Posted on October 3, 2007January 14, 2011 by Mamapumpkin

I certainly do. And I'd go straight to Suasana Spa in Ampang for the best massage in the world. Do you know how far that is for me to go to a spa when there are so many spas near where I live? Trust me, I do it.......click to learn what next.

Supermarket from my bed

Posted on October 2, 2007October 2, 2007 by Mamapumpkin

When I was younger, I remember standing at the back of those shopping carts whenever we went grocery shopping. Did you do that? Tee tries to do that now but her height doesn't make it work quite so efficiently so I ban her from it. The last thing.......click to learn what next.

A man I truly respect

Posted on September 27, 2007 by Mamapumpkin

Have you heard of Ananda Krishnan? Well, it's not him. But there is someone in town known as 'the other' AK or 'the other' Krishnan. He is non other than the owner of Eversendai Corporation. Look him up. He is one of the most humblest and most polite.......click to learn what next.

Talk about efficiency. Thank you, JoMel!

Posted on September 24, 2007 by Mamapumpkin

Since my last post about family insurance plans, the lovely JoMel has responded rather promptly and at length to my genuine query. Now I'm not so quick to commit myself into the Education/Insurance plan for Tee. But having said that, I do like the coverage for insurance that.......click to learn what next.

Our children’s future

Posted on September 24, 2007September 24, 2007 by Mamapumpkin

Last week, a friend and I went over to another friend's place to hear him pitch a children's education stroke insurance fund for Tee. He has been a friend since University days and I've known his family even before, so trusting this guy implicitly was as easy as.......click to learn what next.

Me and my research habits

Posted on September 21, 2007September 21, 2007 by Mamapumpkin

Whenever I am about to make a purchase, I usually burn the midnight oil for days on end researching the lucky product before parting with my hard earned cash. I'd draw up spreadsheets to analyse at a glance where my value was. In detail. Like Tee's school, for.......click to learn what next.

Our dream cars

Posted on September 20, 2007 by Mamapumpkin

The Hubs used to own a bright yellow truck that he absolutely loved. He loved it so much, he named it Tigger. We discussed at length if he should modify his baby with auto accessories as there was just so much one could do with a truck. *wink*.......click to learn what next.

How we control our monthly finances

Posted on September 20, 2007 by Mamapumpkin

When I first started earning a salary in England, I used to control my finances by writing down everything I spent in a little 555 book. Remember those from the Roti man? I still write down what I spend today. But in a pocket diary/mini filofax. More glamour.............click to learn what next.

My Favourite Boss

Posted on September 16, 2007September 16, 2007 by Mamapumpkin

No, it isn't Tee. When I was working at the Petronas Twin Towers, it was in my contract that I couldn't join a client to work for at least 12 months after I left the said company and likewise in our client's contract with us, they couldn't poach.......click to learn what next.

Blogging Paid Reviews

Posted on September 6, 2007 by Mamapumpkin

I got my first paid review approval today. Suddenly, I am stressed and nervous.

Wearing Gold – another Chinese superstition

Posted on August 16, 2007August 16, 2007 by Mamapumpkin

My beloved Mother believes truly that to attract wealth and good fortune, one must wear lots of gold. This is what the Chinese believe in. Just like how they believe you should have fishes (real or otherwise, even paintings) for abundance of wealth, wear jade to ward off.......click to learn what next.

Can you please do me a favour?

Posted on August 10, 2007May 20, 2009 by Mamapumpkin

For those of you who've linked me, thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Sincerely. Can I beg you to change the web address to my new address - www.mamapumpkin.com? I think it'll make advertisers realise that I have more readers than they see I do. Since.......click to learn what next.