CECiL at Home

iHerb.com discount coupon code SKP520

2013-01-30T14:20:00.001+08:00

Good news! I had just bought some stuffs from iHerb.com and found this :

There is this January Special where every customer is a VIP customer! Also, if you order $200.00 or more during this month, (instead of the required cumulative $2,000.00) your account will be elevated to VIP account, ongoing! This special VIP offer will expire at 12 midnight, Pacific Time, January 31st.
Apart from that, there is also January 2013 - DHL Challenge where DHL has offered a new set of discounts for some countries. For purchase above $60.00, there is up to 95% off DHL published rates!

So you had guessed right, of course I had bought lots of things in order to meet the VIP life-long account requirement ;)

So for those who are interested, there is a iHerb.com Discount Coupon Code SKP520. Just enter the code during Check Out or you can directly click here.

There will be $10 off for any first-time purchase of $40 or more. And for orders less than $40, you will receive a $5 discount. Orders of $60.00 or more a minimum 5% discount will be applied toward order total.

There is also free shipping for U.S. orders over $40.00.

Hoorays for iHerb !!!

I am Back !!!

2013-01-11T04:39:00.002+08:00

Hello! I am finally back again after a long hiatus..... have been too busy taking care of my 2 kids. Hope to continue pick up blogging from where I had left off :)

'Alarming' levels of arsenic and toxic metals found in baby food

2011-04-21T09:51:00.003+08:00

The following article is taken from TODAYonline from here.

04:47 AM Apr 11, 2011

LONDON - Baby foods used to wean infants off milk have been found to contain "alarming" levels of toxic contaminants including arsenic, lead and cadmium, in tests conducted in Sweden.

The products tested by researchers were made by major baby food manufacturers including Organix, Hipp, Nestle and Holle.

Researchers found feeding infants twice a day on the shop-bought baby foods such as rice porridge can increase their exposure to arsenic by up to fifty times when compared to breast feeding alone.

Exposure to other toxic metals such as cadmium, which is known to cause neurological and kidney damage, increased by up to 150 times in some of the foods tested, while lead increased by up to eight times.

Although none of the levels of the toxic elements found in the foods exceeded official safety limits, scientists believe they are still of concern if fed to very young children and have demanded new guidelines to restrict their presence in food.

Young infants are thought to be particularly vulnerable to these substances because they are going through rapid development.

Writing in the journal of Food Chemistry, the scientists from the Unit of Metals and Health at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm said: "Alarmingly, these complementary foods may also introduce high amounts of toxic elements such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and uranium, mainly from their raw materials.

"These elements have to be kept at an absolute minimum in food products intended for infant consumption. In infant foods, the high concentrations of arsenic in the rice-based foods are of particular concern."

Experts now believe there are no safe limits for arsenic and manufacturers should be making more efforts to remove it from their food.

Professor Andrew Meharg, a biogeochemist at Aberdeen University who has studied the presence of arsenic in rice, said the latest research highlighted the urgent need for new restrictions on arsenic and other toxic elements in food. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

What Women Want Fair (Singapore Expo)

2011-04-15T11:10:00.001+08:00

Start: 15 Apr 2011
End: 17 Apr 2011

Venue: Singapore Expo Hall 5B
Cost: Public - Free admission

Time: 10am to 9pm
Organiser: Hemus Pacific Pte Ltd
Contact Details:
Tel: +65 9690 1623/ 9008 4234/ 9369 9618/ 6270 3498
Fax : 6634 1376/ 6270 2686
Email : info@hemus.com.sg
Website: www.hemus.com.sg

What Women Want fair aims to provide women from all walks a wide range of products and services under one roof! It is a consumer exhibition showcasing the wish lists of the modern women from latest beauty & health care products/services, high tech gadgets, household equipment to fashion.There will be performances, free talks, games and freebies giveaway. A free admission event caters to all women, whether they are teenagers, working women or homemakers. Mark the dates in your calendar as no woman will want to miss this event!

Travel Carnival 2011 (Singapore Expo)

2011-04-15T11:06:00.000+08:00

Start: 16 Apr 2011
End: 17 Apr 2011

Venue: Singapore Expo, Hall 4B
Cost: Adult: $2.00 Children below 12 yrs - Free

Time: 9.30am to 9.30pm
Organiser: IBT Investment Pte Ltd
Contact Details:
Telephone: +65 6298 8425
Fax: +65 6298 8421
Email: info@uee.com.sg
Website: www.uee.com.sg
Travel Carnival 2011

Transform Your Parenting Paradigm

2011-04-01T09:15:00.001+08:00

Transform Your Parenting Paradigm

Admission:	Admission by Registration - S$69
Venue:	Expo Conference Halls A-F

Time: 1.45pm to 5pm

Organiser: Congress360 LLP

Contact Details:
Telephone: +65 92779916
Email: enquiry@congress360.com.sg
Website: www.congress360.com.sg

Prof Zhou Hong is no stranger to many parents – the author of National Best Seller “Appreciating Your Child”. Millions of copies were sold, 7 pirated copies circulating in the market, major contributor to “I m Not Stupid II” movie, thousands of media including BBC had reported his miracles in parenting.

This seminar will help parents to transform their parenting paradigm. Many children and families’ destiny have been transformed after practicing his philosophy at home and schools. The results have been extraordinary.

John Little Mega Expo Sales

2011-04-01T09:11:00.001+08:00

John Little Mega Expo Sales

Date : 31 Mar 2011 - 10 Apr 2011
Venue: Expo Hall 4
Time: 10.30am to 10pm

Organiser: John Little Pte Ltd

Contact Details:
Telephone: +65 6212 9200
Email: customerservice@johnlittle.com.sg
Website: www.johnlittle.com.sg

Lifestyle 21 Exhibition

2011-03-22T11:38:00.000+08:00

Lifestyle 21

Date : 19 Mar 2011 - 27 Mar 2011

Admission:	Public - Free Admission
Venue:	Hall 6A

Time: 12 noon to 10pm

Organiser: Premier Exhibition Services Pte Ltd

Contact Details:
Tel : +65 6736 3177
Fax : +65 6737 9170
Email : sales@premierservices.com.sg

Furniture, Furnishing, Home Interior Design, Appliances and other end-marketing products

The POPULAR Sale 2011

2011-03-22T11:36:00.001+08:00

The POPULAR Sale

Date : 18 Mar 2011 - 20 Mar 2011

Admission:	Public Free Admission
Venue:	Hall 5A

Organiser: POPULAR Book Co (Pte) Ltd

Time:
18 March: 10am to 3pm POPULAR Card Members Closed Door Sale
18 March: 3pm to 10pm Open to Public
19 - 20 March: 10am to 10pm

Contact Details:
Tel: 6462 9555
email: feedback@popularworld.com
web: www.popular.com.sg

Carrefour Fair 2011

2011-03-22T11:34:00.000+08:00

Carrefour Fair

Date : 24 Mar 2011 - 27 Mar 2011

Admission:	Public - Free Admission
Venue:	Hall 5A

Time: 10am to 10pm

Organiser: Carrefour Singapore Pte Ltd

Contact Details:
Telephone: +65 6333 6868
Fax: +65 6887 5146
Email: SINGAPORE@CARREFOUR.com
Website: www.carrefour.com.sg

Up to 80% savings off your favourite brands

Motherhood Exhibition 2011

2011-03-18T17:07:00.002+08:00

Motherhood Exhibition 2011

Dates: 2 - 5 June 2011
Venue: Hall 6B Singapore Expo
Time: 11.00am to 9.00pm

Free Admission

Marriage Convention 2011

2011-03-15T14:28:00.003+08:00

Marriage Convention 2011

at Suntec Convention Singapore on 25th March to 27th March 2011.

Each seminar’s duration is approximately 2 hrs 30 mins. Marriage Convention 2011 tickets are priced at $12 per person or $16 per couple, per seminar. And the early bird tickets are available from all SISTIC outlets from 14 February 2o11.

Here’s the list of the Marriage Convention 2011 seminars if you are keen to attend:

Sat 26 March 2011, 9.30am-12.00nn, Level 3 Theatre
Woo Him, Wow Her (English)
Jay and Laura Laffoon

Sat 26 March 2011, 9.30am-12.00nn, Level 3 Rooms 303-305
幸福婚姻家庭十诫
陈汉锡先生及陈黎凤玲女士

Sat 26 March 2011, 2.30pm-5.00pm, Level 3 Theatre
The Intimacy Dance (English)
Jay and Laura Laffoon

Sat 26 March 2011, 2.30pm-5.00pm, Level 3 Rooms 303-305
好夫妻动力信望爱
陈汉锡先生及陈黎凤玲女士

Sun 27 March 2011, 9.30am-12.00nn, Level 3 Theatre
Say WHAT? (English)
Jay and Laura Laffoon

Sun 27 March 2011, 9.30am-12.00nn, Level 3 Rooms 304-305
‘Bukan Aku Tak Sayang’ – Kenali Bahasa Cinta Pasangan Anda!
Mohd Ali Bin Mahmood

Sun 27 March 2011, 2.30pm-5.00pm, Level 3 Theatre
The Ultimate Date (English)
Jay and Laura Laffoon

Sun 27 March 2011, 2.30pm-5.00pm, Level 3 Rooms 304-305
Fleeting Romance or Enduring Love? (Tamil)
V Ravindran and Caroline David

More info here.

The Kidz Academy 2011

2011-03-15T09:41:00.002+08:00

The Kidz Academy 2011

Venue : Suntec Singapore, Exhibition Hall 401 Level 4 from 11am to 9pm
Date : From 25 Mar 2011 (Fri) - 27 Mar 2011 (Sun)
Time : 11am to 9pm

Featuring more than 70 exhibitors and the finest selection of Child Education Centres and services including Modern Montessori International, Carpe Diem, Adam Khoo, Mindedge, Music for Young Children, Magic Fiddler and many more.

Free admission.

http://www.thekidzacademy.com.sg

Parents World Fair 2011

2011-03-15T09:38:00.003+08:00

Parents World Fair 2011

Venue : Parkway Parade, Basement Atrium
Date : From 14 Mar 2011 (Mon) - 20 Mar 2011 (Sun)

Further Info :

Have your kid’s photo take on an exclusive parents world cover for a minimum spend of $50 for the first 200 shoppers daily.

Stand a chance to win more than $10,000 worth of prizes in our Parents World Fair 2011 Lucky Draw.

Lucky Draw Prizes:
1st Prize:
Meyson Jewellery Set worth $9,000 plus $300 Parkway Parade shopping vouchers

2nd Prize:
Nintendo Wii Set plus $200 Parkway Parade shopping vouchers

3rd Prize:
Canon Camera plus $100 Parkway Parade shopping vouchers

Other exciting games:
- Power Mums & Power Dads 2011 Search
- My Parents are smarter than yours
- Stage games and many more.

Baby Care Festival Expo 2011

2011-03-15T09:30:00.006+08:00

Baby Care Festival Expo 2011

Venue : Singapore Expo Hall 6B
Time : 11am to 9pm (18 & 19 March 2011) & 11am to 8pm (20 March 2011).

Free Admission.

Call 6357 5013 for enquiries.

Baby Expo 2011

2011-03-10T17:51:00.004+08:00

Baby Expo 2011

Time: 11am – 9pm (Fri & Sat) 11am – 8pm (Sun)

Organiser: Vivacious Media Pte Ltd

Contact Details:
Tel : +65 6404 3676
Fax : +65 6343 9600
Email : sales@vimedia.com.sg

Singapore Baby Expo Oct 2010

2010-10-01T13:09:00.001+08:00

Baby Expo
22 October 2010 - 24 October 2010

Event type : Retailer & Sales
Venue : Hall 6B
Admission : Public - Free Admission
Event Schedules : 22 & 23 Oct: 11am to 9pm
24 Oct: 11am to 8pm

Show Profile :
Baby Expo provides you with amazing choices and unbeatable value on everything for your pregnancy, baby and toddler. Get set to make the most of our Hot Deals & Great Promotions!

Organizer : Vivacious Media Pte Ltd

Contact Details :
Tel : +65 6404 3676
Fax : +65 6343 9600
Email : sales@vimedia.com.sg

Recipe : Lamingtons Cake

2009-08-27T13:56:00.003+08:00

This is a free recipe : Lamingtons Cake, which I got from buying one of Lamington Baking tray :

Cake Mix Ingredients :
125g butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 milk (approx)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence

Chocolate Icing Ingredients :
30g butter
1/2 cup boiling water (approx.)
3 cups icing sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 cups dessicated coconut

Cake Mix Method :
1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy
2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition
3. Sift flour and salt
4. Add alternatively with milk to mixture
5. Add vanilla essence
6. Blend well, but do not over beat
7. Add a little more milk if necessary, to form a soft dropping consistency
8. Spread evenly onto tray
9. Bake in a moderate oven (180deg C/350 deg F) for 25-35 minutes, or until cooked
10. Turn out and cooled on a cake rack
11. Cut into 30 squares
12. Dip each square into chocolate icing and roll in coconut

Chocolate Icing Method :
1. Melt butter in 1/4 cup boiling water
2. Sift icing sugar with cocoa
3. Add liquid, mixing well
4. Add vanilla essence
5. The icing must be thin so that squares of cake can be readily coated
6. Add sufficient boiling water to form this consistency

Convection Oven

2009-08-25T15:49:00.002+08:00

I have been hunting around for a Convection Oven recently. And finally got one.

Here I am going to share some info that I had gathered during this hunting period :

How do you choose a Convection Oven? First of all, you need to understand what are your cooking needs. Do you need the oven more for Baking, Roasting, Grilling or others? Different oven work best for different needs.

However following are what an oven should have, no matter what are your cooking needs :

Top heating coil
Bottom heating coil
Fan
Glass door wide enough to see the food inside the oven
Glass door that is able to maintain coolness while cooking for safety precaution - can be a double layer glass door
Rack(s)
Baking tray
Independent Lighting
Digital timer (better if have increments of 5 degrees)
Door that can be keep ajar at an angle (when testing the food inside)

Now I'll list out which oven function to use for different cooking purpose :

1. Traditional baking
- Top + Bottom Coil Heating (eg. cookies)

2. Pastry Baking
- Fan Heating (eg. rising bread, meringue, choux pastry, sponge cake)
- Top + Bottom Coil + Fan Heating (eg. satay, fish, meat, cookies)

3. Barbeque
- Top Coil Heating (eg. grilling)

4. Gratin
- Top Coil + Fan Heating (eg. grill, sear, brown, crisp chicken)

5. Pizza
- Bottom Coil + Fan Heating (eg. pizza, quiche)

MIA again!

2009-08-19T12:08:00.002+08:00

Hey I am back and alive again! (after my usual act of MIA - Missing in Action) ;)

What have I been doing all this while? I have been busy doing research. Research on how to be a successful homemaker without much effort. Gotcha ...

I have actually been busy doing experiments on food and cooking. Trying different methods and different mix of morsel bits to come out with unusual (in better words, creative) dishes.

Some come out great and some come out disasters. Of course the one who suffers from these is my dear hubby :)

60 Uses of Salt

2009-07-06T07:28:00.000+08:00

Following are the 60 uses of Salt apart for seasoning :

1. If you drop a whole egg on the floor, pour salt all over the egg, let it sit for awhile, then use dustpan, the egg will come right up,
without all that mess.

2. Soak stained hankies in salt water before washing.

3. Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.

4. Soak fish in salt water before decaling; the scales will come off easier.

5. Put a few grains of rice in your saltshaker for easier pouring.

6. Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.

7. Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh eggs sink;bad ones float.

8. Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs; a cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.

9. A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier.

10. Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to perk them up.

11. Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.

12. Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them; they will last longer.

13. Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.

14. Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet bowl.

15. Soak your nuts in salt brine overnight and they will crack out of their shells whole. Just tap the end of the shell with a hammer to break it open easily.

16. Boil clothes pins in salt water before using them and they will last longer.

17. Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour

18. Add a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand in for a longer life.

19. Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let the salt soak up the stain.

20. Clean your iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on the ironing surface.

21. Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a double boiler will make the food cook faster.

22. Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.

23. To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and starch, with just enough water to make stiff putty.

24. Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.

25. Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it hot for a sore throat gargle.

26. Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher.

27. Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.

28. Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.

29. A dash of salt in warm milk makes a more relaxing beverage.

30. Before using new glasses, soak them in warm salty water for a while.

31. A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea.

32. Salt improves the taste of cooking apples.

33. Soak your clothesline in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line; likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing.

34. Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to prevent yellowing.

35. Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.

36. Add raw potatoes to stews and soups that are too salty.

37. Soak enamel pans in salt water overnight and boil salt water in them next day to remove burned-on stains.

38. Clean your greens in salt water for easier removal of dirt.

39. Gelatin sets more quickly when a dash of salt is added.

40. Fruits put in mildly salted water after peeling will not discolor.

41. Fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash.

42. Milk stays fresh longer when a little salt is added.

43. Use equal parts of salt and soda for brushing your teeth.

44. Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.
*
45. Soaked discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains.

46. Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.

47. Salty water boils faster when cooking eggs.

48. Add a pinch of salt to whipping cream to make it whip more quickly.

49. Sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odour.

50. A dash of salt improves the taste of coffee.

51. Boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out matched.

52. Salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.

53. Cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cool water later.

54. Remove offensive odours from stove with salt and cinnamon.

55. A pinch of salt improves the flavor of cocoa.

56. To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol.

57. Salt and lemon juice removes mildew.

58. Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you don't want grass growing.

59. Polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a brighter look. Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt water.

60. If a pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spilled juice. The mess won't smell and will bake into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily when the oven has cooled.

McCoy BIOCERA Laundry Ball

2009-07-02T15:05:00.002+08:00

My hubby had just passed to me a flyer about McCoy BIOCERA Laundry Ball. What is this?? Never heard before. That's my response.

In the flyer, it is stated the advantages are :
1. replaces detergent and softener
2. save water, space, electricity, time and money
3. deodorant,anti-bacteria & hypo-allergenic. Good for sensitive skin and babies.
4. no harmful chemicals in water after laundry
(I summarised the long winded descriptions in the flyer)

Out of curiosity, I google for this product and here is what I found

Have anyone used this before? Can advise whether this is really affective for doing laundry washing? If yes, I might go get some too :)

Please leave your comments, if any. Thanks ya!

H1N1 Flu Outbreak : A Lesson to be Learnt

2009-06-23T09:53:00.004+08:00

As I was reading yesterday's papers, I came across an article on the rise of H1N1 flu outbreak cases may signal community break. And my mind kept wandering back to an incident that happened on my flight back from Bangkok to Singapore.

On that flight, I wore a facial mask as a preventive measures even though I was perfectly healthy. In my mind, I thought that I was doing some socially-responsible act. However, the two passengers who were sitting next to me starting to feel uncomfortable the moment they see me coming in wearing a mask. Immediately, they started to converse in Hokkien among themselves and also with a group of friends which were sitting in the same row across the aisle.

"Yuck, how can they (the air crew) let sick people boarding the train? Dunno how serious is her condition. Very scared later I got affected with H1N1 too"...

This is a part of their conversations. All along, they kept condemning me and the staff's irresponsibility for letting me into the aircraft. Sometimes, they even show their smirking faces. Sometimes, I even wonder whether they purposely converse in loud voices so that I could hear them.

After that, they started switching to other empty seats and left me alone in that row for the whole flight journey.

All this while, I just sit there listening and doing my own stuffs, ignoring their antics, even though I speak the same language as them. All the while, I was thinking to myself ...

1. Don't they know that twearing face mask in flu outbreak is a preventive measure to curb infection and spreading of virus?

2. I wasn't even coughing or having flu. What makes them think I was sick?

3. Yes, they have the right of speech, but not to the extend of slandering and condemning others without a valid reason.

4. They look like in their 20-30s yet their thoughts were not mature enough to handle this kind of situation. They could first verify with me, prior to making such a silly assumption as scared themselves to death.

5. And their remarks were so unfounded and targetted at the wrong party. Why should the aircrew be condemned in this case?

Well, initially I was annoyed by their ignoramus behaviour but after some time, I feel it is no use being affected by their shallow minds.

So my message to all of you here is :

If you happened to see someone in face mask, DO NOT IMMEDIATELY JUMPED TO CONCLUSION that the wearer is suffering from H1N1 flu. Verify first by noticing whether the wearer is really unwell or just wearing for prevention. Even if the wearer is really infected, please spare those smirking remarks and just go away from him/her quietly.

Early Signs Of Pregnancy Symptoms Checklist

2009-06-13T07:08:00.000+08:00

I have been wondering what are the early signs of pregnancy symptoms. So I have done some googling and this is what I found from Women's Health website :

Early signs of pregnancy: #1

Missed Period

Perhaps the most obvious early symptom of pregnancy is when you've missed your period. This possible sign of pregnancy is often what causes women to search for more details about the other pregnancy symptoms.

Some women might only experience a much lighter period compared to their usual. You might not experience any of the pregnancy signs listed below until around the time you notice you've missed your monthly cycle.

Early signs of pregnancy: #2

Just "Feeling" Pregnant

This early pregnancy symptom may be the reason why you are checking this list right now. Many women believe they have an intuition about pregnancy signs. Their intuition is often proven correct.

Maybe you just feel different; tired, moody, queasy, lightheaded. You may also have heartburn, constipation, or find yourself making more frequent trips to the restroom. Perhaps you feel a dull ache or stiffness in your lower back, you have sore breasts or they seem overly sensitive, or you are simply not feeling like your usual self.

Early signs of pregnancy: #3

Breast Tenderness

One of the very noticeable early signs of pregnancy is tender, swollen, somewhat sore breasts. You may notice this pregnancy sign at bedtime when you are trying to get comfortable and go to sleep, when exercising or showering, or when getting dressed.

When you become pregnant, your body begins preparing your breasts for producing milk and breastfeeding. Hormones start increasing. In addition to breast tenderness and swelling, your nipples may feel sore or extra sensitive. Some women notice their nipples darken in color.

Your breasts play an important role in childbirth. They are naturally sensitive and become far more so when pregnant. This is one of the most obvious early symptoms of pregnancy.

Early signs of pregnancy: #4

Fatigue

One of the earliest pregnancy signs for some women may be fatigue and exhaustion. You may start going to bed sooner, or find it harder than usual to get out of bed in the morning. If you are working, by noon you may feel like you need to lie down. Exercising seems like too much effort. A simple activity like shopping may leave you feeling wiped out and lightheaded. This early pregnancy symptom is caused by all of the changes that your body is going through, plus the increasing levels of hormones.

If you know you are pregnant, try to take frequent rests or naps of 15 minutes to a half-hour whenever possible. Explain to your family, friends and coworkers that you need these naps. Ask for their help in blocking out rest times for you.

Early signs of pregnancy: #5

Frequent Urination

An early symptom of pregnancy that others may notice you experiencing is frequent trips to the restroom. Your family or friends may comment that you seem to be going off to the ladies room quite often lately. One cause of this pregnancy symptom is that the swelling uterus can put pressure on your bladder.

Also, pregnancy causes extra body fluids to be processed by your kidneys and bladder. That means more trips to the restroom. Sorry to have to say this, but this symptom of pregnancy may remain constant for nine months.

Early signs of pregnancy: #6

Nausea

One of these pregnancy signs of queasiness, nausea and vomiting can take you by surprise when you least expect it. These early pregnancy symptoms may come as soon as a week into the pregnancy. Many women experience nausea in the morning when they have coffee and/or eat something on an empty stomach. This is known as morning sickness (see below). Other women notice nausea in the afternoon or evening. Others feel queasy all day.

This pregnancy symptom may often be helped by eating smaller, more frequent snack size meals. Many women say saltine crackers and milk seem to be helpful. This is an early symptom of pregnancy that seems to show up about a month after pregnancy has begun. It tends to level off once you are into your second trimester and your body adjusts to all the many changes it is going through.

Early signs of pregnancy: #7

Dizziness and/or Fainting

One of the more surprising pregnancy signs is dizziness and/or fainting. Going up stairs, standing up suddenly after sitting for a time, or just having to stand in line at the grocery store can make you feel light headed. You might even faint. As the uterus swells it compresses arteries in your legs. This can drop your blood pressure and make you dizzy.

A common early sign of pregnancy is that you may feel faint when you have gone a while without eating. This is due to low blood sugar, because that is your baby's main source of food. You want to eat frequent, healthy snacks to keep your blood sugar up. Stock up on portable lunch box foods you can take with you. Such as apples, bananas, grapes, yogurt cups, carrots and celery, cheese and crackers, small cartons of milk, juice boxes, granola bars, boxes of raisins, etc.

Early signs of pregnancy: #8

Food Cravings, or Aversions to Foods

A well-known cliché is the pregnancy sign-symptom of craving certain foods or unusual combinations of foods. For example, one woman said she craved midnight snacks of warm peach pie topped with vanilla ice cream. Everyone has a funny story about food cravings.

Taking a good pre-natal vitamin supplement and a pure fish oil capsule may ease some cravings and help prevent extra weight gain (see below) ... and of course it is doctor recommended for the health of your baby.

Less well known but equally common pregnancy signs are aversions to certain foods. You may find that some foods you previously enjoyed are no longer appetizing. One woman told us she had always liked pizza, but couldn't stand it at all while she was expecting. Just the smell of it made her feel nausea. This problem may come and go for some women. For others it could last throughout pregnancy.

Early signs of pregnancy: #9

Sensitivity to Aromas

Another related early symptom of pregnancy is a heightened sensitivity to aromas. Even a favorite aroma, such as the smell of a food or perfume, can make you gag. The smell of fresh mowed grass, the smell of a gas station, smells of various foods, household cleaners, perfumes, cigarette smoke, etc., can all cause you to feel nauseated (see nausea symptom above). This is thought to be yet another side effect of the estrogen that is flooding your body.

Early signs of pregnancy: #10

Morning Sickness

This pregnancy symptom is well known, and it is related to the nausea symptom. It can be caused by a variety of factors. Your body is craving food and you have not eaten all night so your tummy feels queasy. Your body has way more hormones coursing through it than normal and this can . You are sensitive to aromas and foods, so your morning coffee may not agree with you. The usual breakfast you typically have may not settle well in your stomach during this time. One woman usually had a scone along with a coffee late' for breakfast, but found that during pregnancy it made her feel sick. She changed to tea and toast and that worked well for her. Each woman is different and will have different foods that may or may not contribute to morning sickness.

Early signs of pregnancy: #11

Heartburn and/or Constipation

This pregnancy symptom is caused by the uterus starting to swell and pushing against the stomach and other organs as it grows. Also, increasing levels of hormones may slow down digestion and bowel functions to allow the body to absorb as much vitamins, minerals and nutrients as possible from foods. Taking a quality prenatal multi-vitamin-mineral supplement is important to help your body get the nutrients it needs for your growing baby.

The slower emptying of the stomach may also cause the release of increased stomach acid to aid digestion, leading to a feeling of heartburn. Soda crackers and sparkling water can help. Smaller more frequent meals are easier to digest. Drink plenty of water and eat fruits, vegetables and perhaps some raisin and bran cereal to help regularity. Some daily vitamin formulas also contain digestive enzymes (from pineapple and papaya fruits). These can help with digestion.

Ask your doctor before taking any kind of antacids as some contain aluminum and should be avoided. These two pregnancy symptoms can last throughout your term.

Early signs of pregnancy: #12

Mood Swings and Irritability

With all of these symptoms of pregnancy to deal with, along with raging hormones, is it any wonder you may experience some mood swings and irritability? There is also the emotional adjustment period to your new responsibility. Your world has changed. Even when your pregnancy is carefully planned, it is normal for your mind to suddenly be filled with questions about the timing, your career, finances, insurance, labor and delivery, motherhood, even the future costs of college.

It is perfectly normal to feel mixed emotions, excitement and depression, joy and sorrow, laughter and tears. Your partner may be very confused by this and may not seem to be supportive. Explain that your mood swings are very normal signs of pregnancy and that you need support and understanding.

You are the one doing all the hard work here and it is not asking too much for your partner to be patient, loving and to have plenty of hugs and kind words of support ready when you need them. Most fathers-to-be want very much to be supportive, they just need instructions. No one has ever told them anything about pregnancy symptoms. It is all a mystery to them.

We encourage you to email or print-out this early symptom of pregnancy checklist so your partner can read it too.

This early symptom of pregnancy may decrease in the second trimester. Meanwhile get plenty of sleep, eat right, take your prenatal vitamins and get some moderate exercise by taking short walks.

Early signs of pregnancy: #13

Higher body temperature

One of the pregnancy symptoms that takes a while to gauge is higher than usual body temperature. You may have been feeling a little bit warm lately and wondered if you are coming down with a cold or something. Take your temperature and see if it is higher than it normally would be.

If you've been trying to conceive and hoping to get pregnant (it's a tough job but somebody has to do it), your doctor may already have suggested that you keep a record of your body temperature every day. If your temperature is higher than usual and it stays high for two weeks in a row, something is obviously going on with your body. You may be pregnant (or you may have a low grade fever). Prolonged periods of increased temperature are a cause to seek your doctor's opinion.

Early signs of pregnancy: #14

Low Back Pain

Early pregnancy symptoms of low back pain can be “a real pain,” literally. This low back pain is caused by several factors. First is your weight change. You gain some weight because you are pregnant, your uterus gets bigger, and your baby grows larger every week. Next, your posture and torso are thrown out of alignment. This weight is mostly in the front of your torso, which pulls on your back. It is like wearing a backpack on your front instead of your back. This changes your posture and puts a strain on your back.

Lack of your typical night’s sleep is another factor. You may be laying on your side and trying to get comfortable. The weight of your womb is pulling on your back muscles as you lay there too. Get a maternity pillow as that can help make you more comfortable.

Finally, your hormones and body changes have some effect too. Your body is getting ready for birth and so some of your joints and ligaments are loosening up to make delivery possible. All of these changes added together can cause the early pregnancy symptoms of low back pain. It is estimated that about half of all women will experience this pregnancy symptom.

Early signs of pregnancy: #15

Implantation Bleeding

One of the less known pregnancy symptoms is the slight bleeding and spotting that can be caused when the fertilized egg begins to implant itself into the uterus. This is known as "implantation bleeding" and it usually takes place between 3 to 6 days after fertilization.

Once the egg becomes implanted in the uterus - congratulations, you are no longer wondering about pregnancy symptoms, you are indeed pregnant. At this point you might notice a little bit of red or pink spotting. Not all women experience implantation bleeding so it is not considered one of the most obvious pregnancy signs.

Early signs of pregnancy: #16

A Positive Pregnancy Test

If you are worrying about possible early symptoms of pregnancy, you can put your mind at ease with a pregnancy test. More than just a pregnancy symptom, this is scientific proof positive of whether you are expecting a baby or not.

Pregnancy tests work best if you wait to take them until at least a day or two after you miss your period. Even if the pregnancy test result is negative you should try it again a few days later to be sure. The best pregnancy tests are the ones done by your doctor or medical clinic. However there are some very high quality at home tests available too.

Early signs of pregnancy symptoms: #17

Bloating and Weight Gain

Yes some unavoidable weight gain is also a sign. Your clothes are getting tighter, you are feeling bloated, the weight showing on the scale is going up... you are getting bigger and that is simply part of being pregnant.

Coming back from Bangkok

2009-06-12T18:51:00.003+08:00

Ho Ho Ho .... I am BACK HOME !!!

Yup, I have been to Bangkok recently and really enjoyed myself there ;D

Actually this is the first time of me going there, even though it is so close to Singapore and lots of Singaporean travel to Bangkok for short trips.

Well, contrary for me, I didn't get to do as much shopping as I wanted, as I spent most of my time going from here to there to do sight-seeings. And I wasn't dissappointed ;)

First, I like the historical sights such as Ayutthaya, Railway of the Death and Bridge over River Kwai. Second, I like the prettier-than-original-naturally-made ah-kwas (tranvestites). Thirdly, of course, the shoppings !!

Well, as I am now suffering from the after-effect of travelling in Bangkok... so can't stay too long on my computer at this moment. Will post the photos when they are ready ;)