There was this really touching story I read some time ago about this little girl who had cancer and she left notes all around the house for her parents and sister to read after she died. The family has since published it into a book and I was struck by how it touched so many people around the world.

In our digital age, it would be so lovely to have a memory online, for not just our closest and dearest to remember us by but also those who we might have lost touch with but had a connection with at some point in our life.

At My Heart Will, we can have our own Personal Page with our own Digital Photo Album to share.

I really like the idea of a special memorial page. Something for the world to remember us by. And hopefully it will be all good things. :)

I must confess to saying once, I'd never buy a ton of clothes for my kids, even during Chinese New Year when tradition has it that you need at least one new outfit. We never bought anything new but perhaps this year with 2 kids and that we will be spending more time with relatives, I felt compelled, and encouraged by the seasonal sales to buy a few choice dresses for Jade and shirts and pants for Jack.

Add to this, I have been tasked with finding a child's suit for Jack for a wedding we will be attending this March. His old suit (worn when he was first 10 months till around 2 years) is probably too tiny by now and we really need to find another one. It is tempting to put him in a nice shirt and pants but yes, again it is the cuteness factor. I'll try to find one for a reasonable price at ShopWiki.

Clothes for children are notoriously silly to spend too much money on since they don't last the children very long but as a parent I must admit I love seeing my kids in lovely clothes (they cost more than mine!). :D

I know most people are wary about the economy next year and so are we. In fact we plan to save even more than we did in 2009 since we did splurge on an iPhone (for me!) and a new camera to replace the old one that has grown a tidy garden of mold. So my new year's resolution (and I plan to keep my resolution) is to save much more in 2010.

We do have a trip planned next year. Two actually. But only the whole family will be travelling for one. Since that one will be an extended one, we'll have to do some strict budgeting during holidays. Fortunately our tickets were bought on special and we'll be staying with family, so that helps some. We just have to be more careful with holiday spending and only buy things we need - well, I'm getting better at that. :D

Another big ticket item we will need to buy next year is a car. :( As it is, our tiny KIA can take one car seat with barely enough space for Jade's and forget about squeezing me in the centre since our centre seat belt is not working. Plus the auto insurance which hopefully won't come up to too much. Secondhand cars are coming down in price, so we might well just get one.

Other than that, we'll be cutting down on electricity usage and eating out. I've started cooking again so that should help. :D

Here's looking forward to a thriftier 2010 with a happy outlook to less consumerism. :D

Merry Christmas everyone! :D

We had an awesome Christmas dinner with our best friends in a quiet deli in the west side. Jack played beside a Christmas tree while Jade joined us while sucking on a candy cane (still in its wrapper). She managed to suck right through it and actually sucked some of the blue mint off!

We managed to get home, tucked the kids in bed, ready for an early morning tomorrow at Mom's.

Many moons ago I had an idea of creating a cigarette which doesn't harm anyone and basically lets you breathe herbal smoke.

Now someone's actually gone and done it. This is not for people who want to smoke, but for those who want to not harm people around them with their secondhand or third hand smoke for that matter, and to save some money.

I always believe that if you want to harm yourself, go right ahead. But if you hurt others, then there is hell to pay. Smoking is one of those hell-to-pay things. A smoker knows that the smoke is bad for him or herself and worse for people around them (not to mention their pets), why do they consciously harm these people?

Anyway, that is a question between a smoker and his or her conscience.

If all a smoker wants is a nicotine fix, he or she can now buy one of those new electronic cigarettes everyone's been talking about.

One only inhales the nicotine that is included in the pack and none of those other foul and toxic chemicals, aka tar, carbon monoxide, smoke, and 400 other hazardous substances found in traditional tobacco cigarettes. What comes out is water vapour so one can smoke it anywhere.

No smelly clothes, fingers, or breath. No secondhand or third hand smoke to kill your loved ones and less loved ones around you. And the only person who inhales the nicotine is yourself. Everybody wins. :)

Quite some years ago, I published a post about my very remarkable, really tough grandma. She is now 99 years old and found to have advanced pancreatic cancer. She's still largely lucid although she is forgetful and can't talk much. She can recognise us and ask for things.

I wonder if she knows she has months to live. Surely she must, the ushering into hospital and then soon, out again, the new pain in her abdomen as the pain escalates. It is a terrible way to die, although doctors tell us she will be helped along with morphine.

I try not to think about death. It is inevitable for all of us and we all have to deal with the end of our existence. All we can do is to cherish each day and give comfort and our time to those we love.

I wonder if I would prefer to go suddenly or have some notice. But you know me, I always like to be prepared.

How I Met Your Mother is one of the best sitcoms I've ever watched: witty, clever, funny, with an attractive cast and amazing chemistry. Until Season 4 began.

What the heck happened?

Robin and Barney.

The hook-up everyone wanted to happen seems to have killed the show for me.

I have watched 4 episodes already and they all seem flat and boring. No one wants to see Robin and Barney together like that. They are neither acting much like a romantic couple nor merely friends with benefits. There was never much about that, except in the first episode.

The next thing we knew, boom, they were official and then boringsville.

Thankfully this week's episode seems to have ended with Barney regretting the relationship and missing his singlehood. I really hope this means HIMYM will regain the edge it started with. Looks like I will be tuning in next week.

It hurt me too much to post it here before, but my beloved cat Boy died last April from a heart attack. He was 17 years and 3 months old and had been my baby for 17 years and 2 months.

I don't want to repeat the story because it hurts me too much, but here it is on Five Cats Blog.

I will love you forever, my sweet baby...

When we first got the cats, we had to cat proof the house: no toxic plants, liquid cleaners they could drink, stove safety, etc. With a bun in the oven, one has to begin reading up about child safety and start acquiring baby proofing items.

One of the most comprehensive product sites is KidSafe. They have all kinds of cool gadgets (and neat articles) to keep your kid (and hey, maybe even cat) out of mischief.

The nice wooden safety gate can be used for kiddies and overexcitable puppies and the KidCo Toilet Lock just looks cute. Not that our cats drink from the loo. But keeping it down is a good habit so that the contents don't spew 6 ft into the perimeter (fact!).

Remember what's important before you buy any of this stuff, is to check if the materials they use are safe and non-toxic (paint, plastic, etc). Stick with untreated solid wood if possible. It is much safer for all at home. Try Googling the product for reviews and emailing the manufacturer to ask what materials are used in the product.

Safe home, everyone!

Cool strange fish from "monster" lake and how to tell if your baby loves you. :D