I like to get really creative when I’m giving gifts, but sometimes when you’re giving gifts to little kids they want something specific that they’ve seen on commercials, like a holiday Barbie, and just won’t be happy unless they get it for Christmas. But one area that I’ve learned you can trick them in at Christmas is stocking stuffers. You can make little, inexpensive things look really nice if you put them in a stocking and stick to a few little tricks.

I started thinking about that a few weeks ago and when I was doing that I went online with our CLEAR TV BUNDLE to see if I could find some easy and cheap stocking stuffers to put in my kids’ stockings.

One of the cheap stocking stuffers that I came up with was to buy a little pink notebook and take some Barbie stickers and put it on the cover. Then I got some hot pink pencils to match the notebook that my daughter will think are Barbie things too. I also got her some cheap little hair clips that I know she’ll like too.

I have lived in the northeastern part of the country my entire life. Snowfall is inevitable. But there is something charming about the first snowfall of winter. When that happens I don’t think about shoveling or icy roads. Instead I like to think about how nice it looks outside. The first snowfall of winter brings out the little kid in me. The first snowfall usually happens before Christmas for us. Once it does my fiancé and I look out the window as the giant flakes strike the ground. Once it is accumulating on the ground we head outside and go for a walk in the snow. After a few minutes it is like you are ten years old again. We try to build a snowman or have a little snowball fight.

Snowfall in winter is especially beautiful at night. There is nothing like looking at snow falling around street lights or trees. It is one of the most amazing sights in nature. The first time snow falls in winter is an indicator that the holidays are right around the corner. Despite the cold weather it really gives you a warm feeling inside. After we enjoy the snow we head inside to watch our direct tv. We put in pajamas and make some hot chocolate and enjoy spending the evening together knowing that winter has arrived.

When you are short of spending money this coming Christmas, payday loans will come in handy. There are so many web sites offering payday loans with no conditions attached other than you are required to pay back your loans eventually with interests. Christmas is a time of giving for the parents and time of receiving for the children. Christians around the world celebrate this season of joy and merriment with parties, Christmas carolling, and some will take the opportunity to do charity.

As for me, I might go to an orphanage and give out little presents to the orphans in Penang. But that is just a plan in the making. Recently, I was contacted by Citibank credit card representative who offered to give me an advanced loan to spend this December when they noticed a much much higher money was charged to my card for a brand new 32 GB iPhone 4, Orient Rewards discount vouchers, UniAsia Life Insurance Policies and some spending at St. Michael’s in Sunway Pyramid. In total, I chalked up more than $8,000 in credit card bills within a short period of time! In future, I have to be more cautious of my spending and not to spend too frivolously with my hard earned income. Money does not grow on trees and it requires your blood, sweat and tears to put bread on the table and to give allowance for the maintanence of the home to my retired parents. But thank goodness, I am blessed with more than enough to spend and do not require the advance pay day loan.

Total, I have spent more than $8,000 in 1 month and that is a whole lot of money! Also paid $498 for Orient Real Rewards where you get discount vouchers to stay in hotels and dining all over Malaysia. But I paid for it mainly for the free $200 medical checkup with blood test and cholesterol test in Adventist Hospital in Penang. If they have exagerated all the offers and the medical checkup, I am going to cancel this transaction next year as I agreed too fast on the phone since the telesales marketer put it so attractive on the phone. Canceling my transaction is easy! Just write a letter and fax over to Citibank for the transaction to be off for the following month and don’t pay for it.

There are a few links that offers No fax payday loans for you to check out if you are short of cash and need spending money this coming Christmas. I am lucky, I have access cash to spend and don’t need to get loan at the moment. But I have to certainly watch out my spending in future and not be so frivolous in using my credit card.

For this year’s Christmas shopping, I just got myself a 32 GB iPhone 4 that was so interactive and the best investment I ever bought myself. I also need purses to keep my coins and loose change whenever I buy things over the counter. The women’s wallet might come in handy too to keep the bigger notes intact. I have also dowloaded Talking Tom software for my iPhone 4 plus a game known as Angry Birds.

The birds are angry because the ‘green pigs’ stole their eggs and it is the mission of the angry birds to break down the fortress of the green pigs! This game is simple yet so entertaining on the iPhone. Now I am using 2 handphones – a present business clam-shell phone for calls and sms plus an iPhone for interactive games and softwares. That is why I bought 32 GB capacity instead of 16GB for the iPhone 4 which cost around RM2,609 including screen protector and iPhone cover pad.

This video reminds me of the movie that I have seen before – Alvin and The Chipmunks. And Christmas is 2 days to go. I am now having a short holiday here in Malaysia and will be back on 24th December, just before Christmas. The air outside is so cold and we don’t need the air con. Even while on holidays, the phone has been ringing non stop and I feel like I am still working today. I am currently staying on a high floor on the 24th floor. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a Merry Christmas to one and all this season. Enjoy yourself while you can and celebrate health. For without health, we cannot work and have to stay bed ridden.

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This is a 5 star rating Youtube video of Looney Tunes “Jingle Bells” Sing-A-Long. Just watchh it to see and judge for yourself. I certainly loved it with a certain twist. And it is 7:20am now on a public holiday – what am I doing here by the computer when I should be still in bed, you might think. Well, being the computer addict that I am, I have to wake up early to check on mails or see any thing else to do before preparing for my working trip to KL later today. And I need to get a quotation out by today before the planned trip. So, working at home – whether holidays or not – it entirely up to you.

I am in a Chrismassy mood and decided to put up a Youtube Christmas song with lyrics for a sing-a-long like a karaoke session. There is more to just presents, Santa Claus, christmas trees and all the merriment. Christmas is God’s precious gift to the world when baby Jesus was born to save mankind from eternal condemnation. It is God’s reconciliation to men who were hopelessly lost in this world and to bring them back to an eternal reunion with God the Father for whoever accepts Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Indeed accepting Jesus as my Lord and Saviour way back in 1985 was the best decision I have made that changed my entire destiny including my family and friends.

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This is even better than going to the movies where you have to queue up to buy your tickets, and wait for the show to start after parking your car somewhere. But with Directv, all you need is a tv screen and a cosy place to start enjoying the shows and various channels. What better place than right in the comforts of your own home, no matter how untidy and cluttered it is.

I might also attend church service for Christmas eve if I am up for it – otherwise I will just stay at home to watch tv. And it has been like this for the last 10 years since I came back from Singapore in 2000. I still miss the Orchard Road decorations, but home life is better – no more stress of staying alone with a wierd neighbour who cannot leave you alone or being out of a job several times. Those are history now and I am going to turn on the tv soon.

I am in a Christmassy mood just watching this Youtube video of King of Pop Elvis singing ‘Blue Christmas’. It is time for a merry celebration and festive season. I love Christmas when baby Jesus was born on 25th December – God’s gift to mankind and for the salvation of souls. With Santa Claus, presents and Christmas trees lighted up, it is a time of jubilation the world over. It represents triumph over defeat, light over darkness. And I am glad of being a Christian since 1985 – the year I was converted from a Buddhist. I know I have eternal life in heaven as I am called to return home one day. That’s the miracle of being Christians. Have you accepted Jesus as your Saviour? If not, it is time to say the sinner’s prayer.

You can sign up and order the gifts online and have them delivered right to your door steps. Simply pay by your credit card using a safe, secure payment gateway right at home. Talking about Christmas, I will be going for a short holiday somewhere in Malaysia just before 25th December. I guess I deserve a good break from all the labor and hard work at home. Everyday, there is something new for me to complete and it has been like this for the last 5+ years. It is indeed a blessing to be able to work from a home office which saves me petrol costs and time commuting to work or getting stuck in traffic jams. And I work in my pajamas. And it is my sincere prayer that it will continue for as long as possible with all our workers happily employed every day with daily work and wages to collect.

Also today, I just came back from RHB Bank in Jalan Teh Ewe Lim, near my house. I managed to cash out RM367.59 from my Google Adsense via Western Union for the first time after one and a half years. The bank exchange rate was 3.30 today in RHB. And this month alone, I watched a few movies too like Alvin and the Chipmunks, National Treasure and Golden Compass. As I have promised in my previous post, here are the many photos taken in Genting Highlands during my trip from 21st to 23rd of December.

Genting’s very own Statue of Liberty in First World Plaza.

Stage in First World Plaza in preparation for Christmas.

Giant Santa Claus.

Santa Claus sitting on a bench in maroon velvet costume.

Genting Walk in brightly lit neon lights.

Many decorations and items for sale in Genting Highlands.

Eiffel Tower in Genting Highlands. This was taken in First World Plaza, the happening place to be in Genting where most attractions and fun rides are abound everywhere.

Christmas decorations and water fountain outside Genting Hotel.

Chrysanthemum flowers grow abundantly outside Genting Hotel.

First World hotel, the largest hotel in the world with 6118 rooms. This was where we stayed.

Escalator decorated with pots of geniune poinsettias and christmas trees.

The two elephants remind me of my recent trip to Bangkok and Pattaya. They are part of the interior decoration of Genting Hotel where we roamed about.

This is one of the entrance to a casino. We were not allowed to go in as I was holding a camera in my hand. Since we don’t gamble, we did not attempt to go in again and instead enjoyed the cool mountain air in our room.

Christmas House.

Happy New Year 2008 to all and Good Bye 2007. Let’s hope 2008 will be another year full of excitement, enjoyment, food, travels and making more money.