House Searching

Recently, I have been actively looking for a house to buy, which means I am paying extra attention on property information, renovation, interior design, furniture and soft furnishing.

I seriously would love to have my house, but it seems like it has gotten too complicated and tedious to me, so much so that it is tiring. 

Finding a good location is hard. Finding a affordable property at a good location is even harder. Finding a affordable good condition property at a good location is almost impossible. 

After month of searching, I notice that a l0t of property are actually selling at a price that is higher than market price, which mean either I am willing to take out more money, or I give up on the house. 

Anyway, I will be on leave this Friday for house searching at Kepong area. Wish me luck and hope that I can finally find a suitable house.

20 Things You Should Know Before Buying a New Mattress

People spend more time on their bed than on any other piece of furniture in their home. It is like a source of relief and comfort. A good night’s sleep has a refreshing and re-energizing effect. That’s why mattress selection is quite an important shopping exercise.  If you are planning to buy a new mattress, take the time to read up on several important things you should know before buying one.

1. Focus on comfort. The most important thing to consider is your own comfort level. Even if you buy the most expensive mattress, you won’t have the best sleeping experience of your life if you’re not comfortable on it. To find a mattress you’re comfortable with you need to consider several other factors, like the size, firmness and type of materials used in the mattress.

2. Don’t look for one mattress that is the best for everyone. Look for your own best mattress. Remember to look for a mattress that’s best for you, not the mattresses that the experts hail as the best ever on the market.

3. Find the right size for your needs. If you feel restricted by a narrow bed, then you need a more spacious double bed. A queen size may be a bit large for an individual person, but it’s great if you like the extra space. King-sized or California king mattresses are made for partners and for master bedrooms and offer plenty of space for couples.

4. Firmness labels are not accurate. When it comes to firmness, don’t believe the labels firm, medium firm, and extra firm. One brand’s extra firm may be equivalent to another brand’s medium firm option. You can’t trust these labels completely.

5. Test the mattress. This is why you should personally test the mattress first. Most mattress and bed shops will allow you to lie down on the mattress so you can test it.

6. Read consumer mattress reviews when buying online. This gives you a more practical idea of the popular mattresses currently available and allows you to narrow down the huge field of choices.

7. Firmer is not better. You need just enough firmness to properly support your spine and other parts of your body. But excess firmness can cause uncomfortable pressure points and prevent your spine from maintaining its natural curve while you sleep.

8. Softer is not better. Too much softness will sag under the middle area of the spine, which can cause poor posture and lead to back pain.

9. An adjustable air bed is a safe but expensive option. Since you can adjust the firmness and softness with a remote, you’re safer even without first testing the mattress.

10. Multi-zoned beds make good alternatives. If you find adjustable beds too expensive, you can go for mattresses with different support zones. Hunt for a mattress that is softer at the hips and shoulders, but firmer at the mid-spine area.

 

11. Decide on a budget and stick to it. The prices of mattresses vary greatly, so you need to set a price you are willing to pay and not go over that amount.

12. Don’t rush. Take your time and so you will make the right decision. The last thing you want to do is bring home a bad mattress and then go through all the hassles of returning it.

13. Consider all options. You can spend the time you have researching innerspring mattresses, air beds, waterbeds, memory foam, latex, and so on to find the best mattresses and the type which suits you best.

14. Metal coils are common, but not necessarily the best. Innerspring beds are prone to sagging and allergens, are noisy and have a bouncy effect some people find uncomfortable.

15. Memory foam is far from perfect. Despite all the hype, memory foam is not the ultimate choice. It tends to feel hot, expels an unpleasant chemical smell and is prone to body indentations.

16. Natural latex foam is better. Keep an eye out for natural latex if you do decide to go with this classic foam choice. 

17. Waterbeds are not for everyone. Waterbeds can follow the body’s shape and feel cool, but some people also feel seasick and dizzy on them and they don’t always provide enough back support.

18. Hybrid beds are becoming more popular. If you want to get the benefits of the different types of mattresses, get hybrids like latex and memory foam combination, or an innerspring with memory foam top layer.

19. Brands have value. There are reasons why some brands are more well known than others. Look for trusted brands that have good quality products and good customer support. 

20. Look for a good warranty. The warranty, of course, is the most important aspect of a mattress brand’s customer support system. The longer the warranty, the better.

Remember that you will spend more time on your bed than any other furniture item in your home. A small amount of time spent researching your mattress choices can pay huge dividends by contributing to your comfort and well being for years to come. These tips were provided to us by David Patrick from Mattress Wiz.

Source: freshome

Rest Well, Live Well and Love More

Recreate a spa-like ambiance in your very own bathroom.

When you get back from a tough day at work the last thing that you would want to deal with is a dirty bathroom. Research has also shown that soaking in bathtubs does offer many health benefits, including stress relief, alleviation of sleeping problems, and also lower blood pressure. Immerse yourself in warm water calms internal organs and endocrine system as it stimulates nerves on the spinal cord. If you have never thought of it that way, start thinking. So the next best thing would be to go for a spa. Reality check guys – not everyone can afford spa. So why not recreate a spa-like ambiance.

There are ways that you can tackle the pressures of a weary day. Of course, if you do not have the space and fortune to include a private jacuzzi in your bathroom or not have a bath tub to soak in, there are simple gestures that will enable you to create the ambiance.

When you think of spa, what comes into you mind? You would think of dim lights, relaxing scent and subdued movement. But how can one bring all of these things into your confined space?

The Smell of Paradise

I am talking about aromas. These bottles of essential oils are your best friend when recreating a spa-like ambiance. Whenever you step into a spa you are first greeted in scent – you would not want your bathroom smelling like a landfill or even a fish market- so let the senses invigorate your mind. Scents such as lavender, rose, chamomile and cinnamon are great for your end-of-the-day tensions. It can be applied directly onto the skin before your step in to your tub for a warm soak. For those who are not so fortunate, a spa experience can  still be achieved be combining aromatherapy oils and dried flowers in an organza pouch. Tie this pouch on to your shower head and allow the warm water to pass through the pouch, as the scent would slowly engorge your bathroom. Make sure that the pouch completely covers the shower head for optimum result. Clearly, in every situation there is a solution.

Soft Lighting 

Now that your sense of smell is addressed lets move on to your sight. There is nothing more relaxing than soft, warm glow. If your bathroom is fitted with a dimmer, just dim it down to the finest glow. For those who are not as fortunate, just switch our lights off and place aromatherapy candles in your bathroom.

Fine Tune

Roll up a couple of your towels and tuck them into a basket for a chic touch to the ordinary. Also, scatter rose petals on the floor and bath water. It’s the little things that bring up the mood for a luxurious ambiance. Instead of your used towels, get a classy dressing gown. Place lush greenery by placing a select number of potted plants. Creativity is key.

Art and imagery goes a long way to induce relaxing ambiance. Guess why there is always a picture or painting of some sort in spas and also five star hotels. The tip would be to choose scenes of nature, the seaside or animals to recreate that ambiance.

Source: CreativeHomeX

10 Home Staging Tricks to Help Your Home Sell Quicker

Not that I am going to sell any house now, but in case I do in future, I think this article will be really helpful, which is why I put this here now. For my easy reference in future. XD

Home staging combines the ability to “stage” your home so that it is visually and aesthetically appealing to a home buyer.  If you’re in the process, or thinking of selling your home, there are several staging tricks that professionals use. It is a proven fact that homes that are staged will sell quicker than those that are not. Follow these 10 home staging tricks and get confident that your home will sell in no time at all!

1.) Create curb appeal: Before buyers set foot in your home, they will first see the exterior of your home.  Keep the lawn, landscaping, driveway and walkways neatly manicured. Ensure the front entry and front door are inviting, and consider placing flowers and a fresh door mat to welcome in perspective buyers. Many home owners will hire a yard service while their home is on the market to keep it looking great at all times.

2.) Purge: If you don’t immediately need it then throw it away, donate, sell or pack it up.  Your home needs to have the minimum amount of furnishings and belongings as possible, but still look livable.  Since you are moving in the near future, how about starting to pack up boxes and place them in the garage or storage unit?

3.) Clean: When you have out-of-town guests come to stay with you, do you clean beyond the ‘normal’ clean? I hope so! This is the amount of clean needed in your home on a regular basis. If you know you will have a showing of your home, clean the day before. The cleaning odors will be gone by the following day. Don’t give a buyer a reason to think your home is dirty.

4.) Bring in light: Open all windows treatments and makes sure windows are clean. Swap out heavier drapery for lighter weight fabrics.  For rooms that are too bright, use sheers that will diffuse light and cast a glow into your space.

5.) Unify your home with color: As you walk through your home, take note of the color schemes as you transition from room to room.  If the living room is blue, and the bedrooms are pink and green, you’re visually chopping up the house.  This will make it feel smaller and less unified.  Opt for more neutral tones – maybe a less saturated version of the blue, pink and green.  If you’re unsure on colors – use warm camel, beiges, grays and warm whites to unify and enlarge the rooms.

6) Appeal to their senses: Home buying is an emotional process, so appeal to their senses when staging your home. Soft music playing when perspective buyers enter your home is inviting and welcomed.  The smell of fresh baked cookies (make the night before and pop in microwave quickly before guests arrive) always warms up a buyer.  Soft throw blankets across a reading chair and soft hand towels in the bathrooms will appeal to their sense of touch and will add coziness to your home.

7.) Leave the house ready for an offer: This simply means every time you walk out the door your home should look like a buyer would want to make an offer on it, that day. Once your home is on the market, live as if a Realtor could call you any minute to show your home. This idea isn’t far from reality! Teach older kids about picking up after themselves during your home being on the market. Each member of the family will have to do less each day, if everyone helps keep it tidy and clean.

8.) Remove personalized belongings: Let your perspective buyers’ picture themselves in your home.  To do this, your personal family photographs, children’s artwork on the refrigerator, and collections should be removed.  Don’t give the buyer a chance to form an opinion of your home based on your taste and personalized belongings.  Let them savor your home for its characteristics and not your stuff!

9.) Be ready for evening showings of your home: With busy schedules, often times Realtors will show your home in the evening.  This means lighting needs to be inviting in each area of your home.  Walk through your home in the evening and see if there are dark, unlit spaces and address them with a table lamp, sconce, or overhead light source.

10.) Be positive: This is a ‘trick’ because with all the doom and gloom news about the housing market there is still a bright side. The bright side is the housing market is showing improvement and you are going to shine above the competition with your staging tricks.  Your confidence will show in your home and an offer will come sooner than you expect.

Home staging can be done by a professional or by you and your family. Whichever you choose, believe that this is a worthwhile investment of time, energy and/or money to sell your home.  Once you use these 10 tricks for staging your home, you will already be searching for your next home.

Source: freshome

Update Your Bathroom For Under RM200

Shower Curtains
You would be surprised how changing something so simple can make a whole lot of difference. Depending on the colour or ambiance of the bathroom you can just pick a shade that stands out to create that dramatic alteration. Also use it with unique shower hooks.

Paint
Paint your bathroom with a fresh coat of paint. Rather than having your tiles decide the colour of your space, your choice of paints can also be very effective in creating the mood. For example, if your tiles are lime green, paint the walls with pale yellow or a deeper shade of green would work just as well. If your bathroom has black or white tiles, brighten it up with a coat of olive green or deep purple for more dimensions.

Go Green
Do not be afraid to add some plants in your bathroom. It can add warmth and life to a place. Flowers are also a fantastic way to breathe life into a boring bathroom. Try using a simple case with a bloom or two for a more lavish appeal.

Mirror
If you are using a basic mirror in the bathroom, you would probably want to jazz it up a notch or two. Choose a preferred trimming to fit around the mirror as a frame to paint it. However, if it already has a coat of paint – add some decorations of your choice to make the difference.

New Towels
Buy washcloths or hand towels in new colours that complement your existing palette. You can opt to roll them up and stuff them into transparent boxes or simply arranging them on your shelf. Try incorporating bold colours with simpler shades to create a ‘pop’ effect.

Accessories
Decorate your sink top with a selection of miniature soaps in a deep dish. Or you could consider arranging selected scented or unscented candles in your favorite colour on your shelf or next to the bathtub. Another tip would be that if you often travel and you find yourself overflowing with sample sized toiletries consider allocating a glass bowl for your guest.

Departure

Today, my best friend is leaving for her studies in UK. 

Here, I wish that she will have a safe and wonderful trip. 

Gosh, I already start missing her.

It just made my day.

I was compiling and doing a summary report for the student evaluation feedback for last semester. Trust me. It is not exactly a happy job. You never know how irritated it is when you see comment like, "No offense. If I am the principal of the school, I will fire all the staff of XX Department", or comment like "Fees too expensive", or even "Sometimes they gave me wrong info causing me to repeat subjects for no reason. Feel disappointed & please ensure correct info given." 

WTF. No offense? The fact that you stated this statement is already an offensive statement. The department is not there to serve you. We are human too. Who are you to say that you would hire the whole department if you are principal? What I can say is that I am glad that you are not the principal. 

Fees too expensive? I thought you should already know before you sign up for the course? The fees structure are given when you enrolled. More so, you are not even paying the bills, your parents did. 

What wrong information can they give that cause you to repeat? If it is wrong information, I am sure you can appeal to the management right? Unless it is a mistake that caused by yourself and all you dare to do is to complain anonymously in student evaluation form. Student, if you do not put efforts in your study, it is not the lecturers or admin staff problem okay?

Anyway, after seeing all these ridiculous comments, I saw one that really made my day and tell me how much I am being appreciated. 

Kimmie from ID dept is the perfect secretary as she's responsible & handles the dept well.

Oh gosh! I am so so so touch when I see this. At least I know I am being appreciate by this student. And just simple statement, it has gave me more enthusiasm to carry on with the evaluation report. ^^

Checklist

Checking through the checklist now...

Price Comparison - DONE!
Price List - DONE!
Supplier - DONE!
Purchase Option - DONE!
Company Logo - DONE! 
Brochure (English) - DONE!
Brochure (Chinese) - ....
Website (English) - DONE!
Website (Chinese) - ....
Facebook - ....
Product Presentation Kit - ...
Business Partner - Cheras, PJ, Sunway, Subang - DONE! Hope more to come...
Contract - ...
Recipe - Still have so much more...
...
...
...

Gosh! There are still so much more to do... Feeling really pressure nowadays. Seems like constantly on PMS nowadays. >_<

Just few days more, and this is going to start officially.

Big dreams come with big effort. 

Wish me luck and hope that everything is okay.